3 Alarm Fire Damages Longtime Portland Company - 07/23/08 >Today at about 9:50 am Portland Firefighters responded to the call of a fire at Buckaroo Thermoseal. This long time Portland area business is located at 5410 NE 109th Ave.

The first fire company to arrive reported "… a 100 ft. X 200 ft. building with heavy fire and smoke." The smoke was being generated by a free burning fire in several different types of roofing materials, the heavy black column could be seen for miles.

No evacuations were ordered except for the areas immediately surrounding the fire. Neighboring businesses were temporarily shut down to allow firefighters access to the burning structure.

Initial concerns for firefighters were power lines falling, semi-trucks at the loading dock that needed to be moved, a 5,000 gallon diesel tank near the fire building, and keeping the fire from spreading to other businesses from the embers falling from the smoke column.

First Alarm 9:50 am
Second Alarm 9:56 am
Third Alarm 10:15 am
Recall 11:10 am

80 firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue and Gresham Fire Department were onscene to battle the fire.

13 Engines
5 Trucks
6 Chief Officers
2 Fire Investigators
1 Fire Commissioner and staff

Investigators are working on the cause and damage estimates and this press release will be updated when that information becomes available.

FRIENDS JUMP OFF HAWTHORNE BRIDGE AND ONE MAN DROWNS - 07/18/08 >PORTLAND, OR, JULY 17, 2008: At 2355 hours Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a person in the Willamette River, after jumping from the Hawthorne Bridge. Several individuals had been jumping into the river from the Hawthorne Bridge and swimming to shore. An adult male jumped with a friend and when the friend made it to shore, the adult male was missing. An individual called 911 from the Hawthorne Bridge after seeing the male jump.

Portland Fire & Rescue's Dive Team recovered the body approximately 10 minutes after entering the water. The water temperature was 70 degrees and the body was found at a depth of 20 feet. Visibility for the diver was 0 feet.

Call Dispatched: 2355 hours
Crew's arrived: 0000 hours
First Diver arrived: 0008 hours
First Diver in water: 0020 hours
Missing Male found: 0030 hours

Jumping off bridges into water is a very danger activity. Any water activity at night is significantly more dangerous. Think SAFETY - when playing in and around water.

Two Alarm Fire Damages NE Portland Apartment Building - 07/07/08 >Tonight at about 5:00 pm Portland Firefighters were called to the Villa De Clara Vista apartments with the report of fire in an upstairs apartment. When Engine 19 arrived they reported heavy fire conditions from multiple apartments. They first hydrant they hooked up to didn't work so they had the second due Engine secure a water supply. Engine 19 attacked the fire using the 500 gallons from the tank on the Engine until water was supplied to them from Engine 2.

The fire damaged 3 apartments and the Red Cross is working with 2 families at this time and possibly a third that was not home at the time of the fire.

Fire Investigators are onscene, working to determine a cause and this press release will be up-dated when that is available.

First Alarm 4:58 pm
Second alarm 5:13 pm
Fire Recalled 5:39

Firefighters will be onscene for several hours assisting Investigators as they sift through the ashes, and extinguishing hot spots.

Three injuries were reported:
One civilian treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Another civilian was transported with minor burns on one hand.
One firefighter twisted his ankle when his leg fell through the floor while fighting the fire. He was treated at the scene and returned to work.

Portland Fire & Rescue Donates 1 Fire Engine and 1 Fire Truck to Sister City Guadalajara - 07/07/08 >What: Donation of 1 fire engine and 1 fire truck and misc. equipment to Sister City Guadalajara.

When: July 8, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Where: Portland City Hall on the 4th Avenue side

Why: Ceremonial "Handing over the Keys" by Commisioner Nick Fish and Fire Chief John Klum to the Director of Firefighters (Chief) Hector Lopez Sahagún who will be accompanied by, 2 deputy chiefs, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant all from Guadalajara.

Guadalajara is a thriving metropolis of some 7 million people protected by 5 fire stations and 440 firefighters. Compare that to Portland with 550,000 people protected by 30 fire stations and 700 firefighters.

Portland Fire & Rescue donated a fire engine in 1999 and has provided many training opportunities to the Bomberos (Spanish word for firefighter). Some of the training provided in the past few years:
Incident Command, Hi-Rise Fire Tactics, High-Angle Rope Rescue, Vehicle Extrication, Fireground Strategy and Tactics, Fireground Accountability, Radiological Emergencies, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Firefighter Safety, and Air Management.

Independence Day Unusually Quiet (?) for Portland Firefighters - 07/07/08 >Portland Fire & Rescue responded to fewer fires on the 4th of July this year, than last year.

The preliminary numbers for the fireworks season of 2008(June 23rd thru July 6th) indicate there were 132 fires reported and of those 30 were caused by fireworks. These numbers are preliminary because not all the fire reports are complete.

The number of fires reported on July 4th, 2008, were also fewer than last year, 24 reported fires, of those 15 were fireworks related.

There was only one significant fire event a residential fire at 815 N. Holland St. the cause is listed as "fireworks on the roof", and the loss is estimated at $5,000.

2008 (Preliminary numbers for 2008)
Fireworks Season (June 23 through July 6)
132 fires (of which 30 were fireworks caused)
July 4, 2008
24 fires (of which 15 were fireworks caused)
2007
Fireworks Season (June 23 through July 6)
207 fires (of which 65 were fireworks caused)
July 4, 2007
54 fires (of which 37 were fireworks caused)
2006
Fireworks Season (June 23 through July 6)
261 fires (of which 70 were fireworks caused)
July 4, 2006
39 fires (of which 26 were fireworks caused)
2005
Fireworks Season (June 23 through July 6)
135 fires (of which 44 were fireworks caused)
July 4, 2005
50 fires (of which 26 were fireworks caused)

Preliminary numbers for "Operation Lower the BOOM"

2008
29 contacts and confiscations
26 - $100 dollar citations issued
3 warnings

2007
67 contacts and confiscations
25 -$100 citations issued.
42 warnings

"Operation Lower the BOOM" in it's Second Year. - 07/03/08 >Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police will be working together as they did last year, to confiscate and write citations for the possession or use of illegal fireworks. The objective of the operation to educate the public regarding fireworks laws in Oregon.

Fire Inspectors will be partnered with police officers and will be "on patrol" in Portland looking for violators. The exact areas of the city they will be patrolling and number of teams are not being released.

Last year the teams wrote 25, $100 citations and performed 67 confiscations during their sweeps. The first offense brings a $100 citation, the second offense $200, and the third $400.

If you, or your minor children, use illegal fireworks and cause damage to the property of someone else, you can be held liable for the damage, the injuries, and the cost of putting the fire out. These costs can easily run into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Steps to safer use of fireworks include:
*Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket of water.
*Use only legal fireworks purchased at a licensed fireworks stand in Oregon.
*Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks.
*Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Wait 15 to 20 minutes then soak in a bucket of water before disposal.

For more information on the safe use of fireworks check our website: http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/
Or the website of the Oregon State Fire Marshal:
http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/

Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police want everyone to have a safe Independence Day.

CEREMONY TO MARK THE ADDITION OF 4 NAMES TO THE CAMPBELL MEMORIAL - 06/25/08 >What: 97th Annual David Campbell Memorial Service
When: Thursday, 10:00a.m, June 26th
Where: 19th and West Burnside


For nearly one-hundred years now, Portland Fire & Rescue has taken a moment each June, on the anniversary of the death of Fire Chief David Campbell, to honor the 36 firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

This year is historic in that the names of 4 fallen Portland firefighters will be added to the memorial. Through research at City archives and The Historic Belmont Firehouse it was discovered that 4 people: James Reed died 1881, Henry Krimbel died 1930, Joseph Allerton died 1945, and Gregory Warner died 1946, all meet the criteria and should be recognized as having died in the line of duty.

Join Fire Commissioner Nick Fish, Fire Chief John Klum and The Campbell Memorial Board of Trustees: Peter Linsky, Worth Caldwell, David Marshall, and Terry Shanley as they pay tribute to Portland's fallen heroes.

Photo opportunities:
-the 2008 Firefighter of the Year Tony Snook will ring the bell for fallen Portland firefighters,
-presentation of flower wreath by Stephanie Rogers (daughter of Henry Krimbel one of the fallen firefighters)
-National Anthem sung by Kita Montgomery
-Bagpipes played by Firefighter Rick McCaul
-Taps performed by a Portland Police Officer Lt. Rod Lucich, platoon of firefighters in dress uniform,
-Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland Police Honor Guard.

The Campbell Memorial was established in 1913 to perpetuate the memory of Portland's heroic Fire Chief David Campbell, who died in a building collapse after ordering all firefighters from the burning building. A memorial to fallen firefighters was also created, as well as an awards program to honor Portland firefighters who have performed outstanding acts of heroism while in the performance of assigned duties.
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