Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Station 4 (Portland State University) is located in Southwest Portland at 5th and College.  Station 4 serves a growing population of older homes, high rise buildings, the college campus of Portland State University (PSU), and the rapidly developing South Waterfront district.  Every day at the station there are eight members on shift; four on Engine 4 and four on Truck 4. 

Over the last few months, the members of Station 4 have been busy running calls and participating in a variety of drills.  With the construction of the new University Pointe dormitory across the street from the station, firefighters have taken tours of the facility to prepare for when it opens to students.  Last month, crews went to Council Crest Park to practice low angle rope rescue strategies in the event that they would need to rescue an individual who has fallen down a steep grade.  Currently, the station is involved in doing a drill with tools other than the Holmatro hydraulic tool to make entry into vehicles that have a patient pinned inside.

Station 4 members feel strongly about the importance of connecting with the surrounding community they serve.  Recently, they participated in the R&H Construction job fair and the Rose Parade.  During the upcoming summer months, the station will work with Kinder Care camps and some of the other child care facilities in their area to take the children on tours of the station and apparatus while educating them about fire safety.

Station 4 members are like a family on and off the job.  In their off time they enjoy doing activities together.  A group of members will be rafting the Salmon River soon and next month the station plans on participating in the PF&R basketball tournament. In May they took second place at the Portland Firefighter Association Golf Tournament and a few members of the station have welcomed new additions to their families. Station 4 members look forward to a busy summer and proudly serve the Downtown Portland community. 

Chief Janssens Swearing In

On June 5th, several hundred people gathered on the steps of Portland's City Hall to witness City Auditor Lavonne Griffin-Valade swear in Erin Janssens as Portland's newest Fire Chief.  Shortly thereafter, in Fire Bureau tradition, a new Chief's badge was pinned on Janssens uniform by Commissioner Randy Leonard.

In her acceptance speech, Chief Janssens remarked that she felt honored and privileged to represent such a fine organization as Portland Fire & Rescue.  She further stated that she truly appreciated the leadership provided by outgoing Fire Chief John Klum, who retired June 6th.  Chief Janssens stated that she was eager to pour her heart and soul into her new job as Fire Chief for the citizens of Portland.

CELEBRATION

Each year in the United States, we celebrate the 4th of July with community parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks - the things of which happy memories are made. But sadly, Independence Day also includes tragic events and injuries resulting from illegal fireworks use. This is both traumatizing and harmful to children, animals, and a growing number of war veterans who deserve our loyalty the most.

Completely aside from the danger of illegal fireworks, there's a huge risk of fire and property damage.  In the past two years both Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Portland Fire & Rescue have experienced multiple alarm fires on July 4th as a result of illegal fireworks use resulting in millions of dollars in property damage.

STANDING TOGETHER

This 4th of July, Portland Fire & Rescue and our partners - Clackamas Fire, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Gresham Fire, Lake Oswego Fire, Hillsboro Fire, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, Oregon Humane Society, Multnomah and Clackamas County Animal Services, Dove Lewis Animal Hospital, OHSU, and Legacy Emanuel Hospital urge you to consider the negative effects of illegal fireworks in our community.  Our goal is to make the 4th of July safe and enjoyable for all through a comprehensive education and enforcement campaign this year. 

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS

Legal fireworks may be purchased only from Oregon's permitted fireworks retailers and stands.  Oregon law forbids possession, use or sale of fireworks that fly, explode, or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air. Bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are ILLEGAL in Oregon.

OPERATION LOWER THE BOOM

In its sixth year, Portland Police and Portland Fire will again join forces around the 4th of July to conduct Operation Lower the Boom.  New this year, Fire Chief Erin Janssens and Police Chief Mike Reese have worked together to deputize all Portland Police officers to write citations to those caught in possession of illegal fireworks.  Fines could cost violators up to $1,000.

LEAVE BIG FIREWORKS TO THE PROS 

Participating in one of the numerous professional firework displays in our region is a smart way to enjoy the 4th of July in a safe and legal manner. 

REMEMBER YOUR PETS 

During the week surrounding the 4th of July, area shelters report a 25% increase in the number of pets coming into the shelters as compared with a typical summer week.  Remember to keep your pets in a safe, secure place on the 4th of July as fireworks can be terrifying to animals.

Window Fall Safety
 

Each year, fire agencies across Oregon respond to incidents involving children falling out of windows.  Most often this occurs during the months when windows are open due to warmer weather. In the United States, about 3,300 children under the age of six fall from windows every year with 70 percent falling from second or third story windows.  In Oregon alone, about 50 children ages zero to five fall from windows annually.

Portland Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Rich Stenhouse reminds citizens that when opening windows, stop and lock at four inches. "Only allow windows to open four inches and make sure to install a window stop to keep children from opening them further," encourages Chief Stenhouse. "Remember, windows also serve as a secondary means of escape during an emergency. Make sure windows are still accessible and can open fully without special knowledge or tools."

Citizens can purchase window safety products from the Safety Store at Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel (501 N. Graham Street, Portland, Oregon 97227) and Portland Fire & Rescue's Historic Belmont Firehouse & Safety Learning Center (900 SE 35th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214).

Grand Floral Parade

On Saturday, June 9th, Portland's 100th Annual Grand Floral Parade wound its way through the city, made up of 14 floral floats, 21 equestrian groups, 18 traditional marching bands, 3 acapella singing groups, and several dancing groups as well as a variety of other entries. 

For the centennial event, a very special Portland icon was chosen to serve as Grand Marshal - Packy the Elephant. Unfortunately, Packy was unable to appear live, but a special float bearing his image was sponsored by Bank of America and accompanied by 50 ZooGuides to represent him.

Rock 'n' Roses was the theme at this year's parade and Portland Fire & Rescue was right in the middle of the fun. With the 1911 steam fire engine and a team of horses, Portland Firefighters marched along with the city's new Fire Chief Erin Janssens to meet and greet the people of Portland along the parade route. PF&R is honored to continue participating in this annual event.  

Firefighters Conduct Blood Drive Amid "Red Alert"

For over 20 years, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has enjoyed further developing its partnership with the American Red Cross.  The partnership began by having an annual blood drive that Bob, a now retired PF&R member - started.  Since Bob's retirement, Lieutenant Rob has taken over as the head organizer of the blood drive and he has been running things for the past eight years.

Lieutenant Rob got involved because he saw firsthand how donated blood can save a life. When Rob's son was only three days old he needed open heart surgery and received 17 units of blood throughout the procedure.  Having a personal story to relate to can inspire a person to give blood, but just knowing that each person who donates can help as many as five people in need encouraged 24 members of PF&R to sign up for a recent blood drive. 

A representative of the Red Cross stated that this blood drive could not come at a better time.  Currently our area is at a red alert meaning there is a high demand for four different kinds of blood.  These blood types include:  O-, O+, B-, and A-.  The Red Cross also wants community members to know that the upcoming summer months are usually the ones with the most need, but are the hardest to get blood donors, due to the fact schools are out of session and people are involved in other activities.