COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Arson Arrest: SE Portland Duplex Sustains $150,000 Damage in Fast Moving Fire

At 5:29 pm on April 28th, Portland Firefighters responded to reports of flames coming from a duplex unit located at 6325 SE 93rd Avenue.  First arriving firefighters encountered flames coming from the rear of the structure and began laying in hose lines to fight the fire.

Incident commanders were concerned because initial reports indicated that one of the units contained oxygen tanks and possibly chemicals used to manufacture drugs.  Firefighters were urged to use extreme caution in fighting this fire because of these potential safety hazards. 

One of the units sustained significant fire damage and the other smoke damage.  A primary and secondary search of both units confirmed that all occupants safely escaped the fire and no one was injured.

The fire was brought under control at 5:52 pm.  A Portland Fire Investigator is currently on scene working to determine the cause of the fire.  Damage is currently estimated at $150,000.

The Red Cross has been called in to assist two adults and two teenagers who lived in the unit adjacent to the fire unit in finding alternate housing. 

"Firefighters were surprised how fast the fire moved through this duplex, destroying one unit and damaging the other," said Battalion Chief Chris Babcock.  "Tonight's fire is one more important reminder of why every family should have working smoke alarms in their homes."

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Update @ 9:22 pm, April 28th:  Portland Firefighter Mitchell Gragg sustained a knee injury fighting tonight's duplex fire.  Gragg, who has been a firefighter with Portland Fire & Rescue for three years, was treated at the scene for his injury and is back on duty.  Gragg works out of SE Portland's Station 25.

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Update @ 2:15 pm, April 29th:  Portland Fire Investigators arrested Jacinda Ann White (DOB 3/15/79) at 8:08 pm on April 28, 2011 in connection with this fire.  Investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set in the duplex in which White was associated with.  White is charged with six counts of Measure 11 Arson I with a set bail of $1.5 million.  The six counts of Measure 11 Arson I represent the two individuals in the fire unit and the four individuals persons in the neighboring unit.  White was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and her arraignment is set for today.  Investigators are unable to release any additional information at this time related to this case.  Photo available on Multnomah County Sheriff's Office website:  www.mcso.us.

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Update @ 2:45 pm, April 29th:  Portland Fire Investigators have determined that the actual identity of the individual arrested in connection with this fire is Justina Eileen Cole (DOB 7/10/84).

Contact Info: PIO Paul Corah 503-940-6003

Randy In the News 4.29.11

 OPB story about the City Council's debate about rejoining the JTTF yesterday.

Portland Fire Responds to Second Fire in SW Portland Medical Office Building in Two Years

 
Portland Firefighters responded to reports of smoke in a medical office building located at 1820 SW Vermont Street at 11:54 am. When firefighters arrived at the Wilson Park Building, they found smoke coming from the building's roof.

An alert individual had noticed smoke coming out of an empty patient room and immediately called 9-1-1. Firefighters from SW Portland's Station 5 located the fire in the building's attic and began a fire attack, while a ladder truck was extended to the roof to assist with firefighting efforts. All occupants evacuated the medical building safely and there were no injuries. The fire was brought under control at 12:22 pm.

Fire investigators report that this is the second fire to occur in this building in two years. The fire two years ago was caused by faulty electrical wiring on the opposite side of the building. This fire was determined to have been caused by an electrical short in the building's wiring in a portion of the building that was not remodeled after the last fire. Investigators estimate that the damage caused from this fire is $50,000.

According to PF&R Battalion Chief Scott Beyers, "Fortunately this building was occupied during the time of the fire, which led to its early detection and minimized damage." "If the fire had occurred after the building was empty, it would have incurred significantly more damage."

Contact Info: Contact PIO Paul Corah at 503-940-6003 with questions.

 

Randy In the News 4.28.11

Portland Tribune editorial about rejoining the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Portland Mercury article about Randy's role in forging a new agreement for the City to rejoin the JTTF.

Defying federal law is not an option for Portland's Water Bureau

                                      
Published: Monday, April 25, 2011, 8:00 AM     Updated: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 3:06 PM

By Guest Columnist The Oregonian

 By David Shaff

As Kent Craford and Kelly Campbell suggest in their recent commentary, the Portland Water Bureau delivers some of the world's purest drinking water ("The Water Bureau needs to hit the pause button," April 20). We share their view that the Bull Run's natural filtration system is more than adequate, and we're pleased that a year's worth of recent tests for cryptosporidium demonstrated that the parasite is not a threat to our water supply. Although we share plenty of common ground on the quality of our water and the view that the federal government's requirement to treat our water for cryptosporidium and cover our reservoirs should not apply to Portland, we cannot simply decline to comply with a federal law, as Craford and Campbell suggest. To do so would be illegal and irresponsible and would result in even greater costs to ratepayers in the form of fines from the federal government.

The Water Bureau is the agency responsible for ensuring that the water it delivers to more than 800,000 people in the Portland metro area is safe and in compliance with federal and state drinking water standards. Negative test results for cryptosporidium do not give us the power or authority to exempt ourselves from federal law. Only the federal government has that authority, and for seven years we have pursued every avenue available to avoid the requirements of that law.

We're not pursuing an extended-compliance timeframe for resolving the open reservoir requirements of the law because it is not an option. I cannot be clearer on this point. Asking for more time is not an option for Portland, as we have no legal or technical basis on which to ask for an extension. When Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a rule to deal with the threat of cryptosporidium, it expressly forbade the EPA from taking cost into consideration in mandating compliance.

But what about New York City, ask Craford and Campbell? New York City has one large uncovered drinking water reservoir, which the state of New York directed the city to cover by 2016 through an administrative order. Earlier this year, New York City formally requested a deferral of the deadline requirement for it to cover the reservoir, which would extend the compliance deadline to 2026, if it is granted. The city is requesting this extension because the nature of its system is such that covering the reservoir before completing other associated work in the system could potentially jeopardize public health. Portland, thankfully, does not have that problem. New York City's request has not been granted yet. To be clear, it is not requesting a variance to the open-reservoir requirements of federal law, and the time extension it is requesting is based on a threat to public health, not the cost of implementation.

Craford and Campbell also claim that because Rochester, New York's estimated cost of compliance is $25 million, Portland could find less expensive compliance strategies. Their analysis is misleading, first because Rochester serves only one-fourth as many people as Portland, and also because they choose to ignore vast differences between Portland's water system and Rochester's. Rochester's compliance strategy would be logistically very challenging to implement in Portland, and our costs would be considerably higher.

The passion that Portlanders feel for their water system is one of the great strengths of our city, and I appreciate the drive that Portlanders like Craford and Campbell have to protect one of our greatest assets. I share their passion to preserve our pristine water system. But I cannot responsibly agree with their suggestion that Portland defy federal law and subject ratepayers to severe fines on top of the already burdensome costs of compliance.

David Shaff is administrator of the Portland Water Bureau.

© 2011 OregonLive.com. All rights reserved.

Randy In the News 4.27.11

Oregonian Editorial about the latest Joint Terrorism Task Force proposal.

Willamette Week article about Special Appropriations in the Mayor's proposed 2011-2012 budget.

Portland Fire Responds to Residential Fire, 1968 Corvette destroyed

 
Portland Fire and Rescue responded to a fire caused by the gasoline vapors of a 1968 Chevy Corvette, two residents were displaced. Fire dispatch received a call from one of the residents stating that a fire, originating in the garage, was extending to the home; the call taker was also informed that all residents had evacuated.

Crews took less than five minutes to arrive on scene and observed pressurized smoke coming from the eves of the one-story home. Pressurized smoke is a positive sign of active fire within a closed structure. Crews from Station 11, located on 92nd and Reedway in Southeast Portland, used an aggressive fire attack to control the fire which was recalled less than 30 minutes after the first notification was received. The location of the structure, more than two blocks from the nearest hydrant, challenged crews to "lay-in" a long supply line to secure a water source. A crew from Clackamas County Fire assisted in firefighting efforts.

A Fire Investigator responded to the scene of the fire and determined the fire to be accidentally caused by gasoline vapors coming into contact with an electrical utility light lying on the ground. According to Fire Investigator Nicole Fuge, "Work was being done on the Corvette's engine when gasoline came into contact with the ignition source." There were no injuries caused by this fire. Damage to the building is estimated at over $50,000.

Portland Fire and Rescue reminds everyone to take extra precautions when working with or around flammable materials and to dispose of all flammable materials in an appropriate receptacle.

Quick Facts:

Fire Location: 6605 SE 91st Avenue

Time of Dispatch: 19:32

Arrival on-scene: 19:36

Fire Recalled: 19:56

Responding Units:

4 Engines, 1 Truck, 2 Chiefs, 1 Fire Investigator

23 firefighters

Contact Information:

Asst.PIO Gabriel Watson 940-6003

Photos courtesy of Dick Harris, Portland Fire & Rescue.

 

Randy In the News 4.24.11

Oregonian story about the ongoing City Hall debate about whether or under what circumstances to rejoin the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Randy speaks with protesters at City Hall

Randy heeded the loud call this afternoon by about 50 water users protesting rate increases.  Although the crowd was boisterous, Randy was able to engage some of them about what has been done to seek a variance for the treatment plant that the EPA is telling Portland they must build to protect the drinking water from infectious bugs.  He further spoke to the issue of covering the reservoirs, explaining that on both issues every single step has been taken to seek variances from the Federal Government because Bull Run water is so clean that these expensive steps are superfluous. Randy explained that these efforts are ongoing, and that we are working with our federal representatives to lower the requirements to treat our drinking water.

KATU coverage of the story can be seen here.

"Portland, Oregon" sign wins awards for local company!

 

 From Ramsay signs: 

Ramsay Signs Gets Top Honors in 2011 ISA Sign Design Competition 

Company Wins in Two Categories for Historic Portland, Oregon Sign 

PORTLAND, Ore. – April 21, 2011 - Ramsay Signs, one of the country’s most respected custom sign manufacturers, announced today that the company has received two prestigious 2011 ISA Sign Design Competition awards from the International Sign Association (ISA). 

Ramsay won top honors for its Portland, Oregon sign in the ISA’s “Historic Reproduction” category, which includes any sign either restored to its traditional form or newly-constructed and designed to resemble a traditional form of signage. The Portland, Oregon sign is a familiar beacon in the Old Town section of Portland. This sign is a historic reproduction in the style of the original “White Satin Sugar” sign that later advertised the White Stag and Made in Oregon brands before being reconstructed to its current state by Ramsay Signs. 

Ramsay was also named as ISA’s “Best of The Regions” for the White Stag project. This designation signifies that this sign received the most votes out of the more that 35,000 votes cast by ISA members in this year’s contest. 

“We are honored to be recognized by our peers in the sign industry,” states Joe Gibson. “The Portland, Oregon sign is an icon for the city, and for the 100 years that Ramsay Signs has spent designing and producing the finest signs in the country.” 

The Portland, Oregon sign has a long history in Portland. Since its installation in 1940, the sign has carried various advertisements, and promoted the White Stag Sportswear brand from 1959 until 1997. The sign was designated a City of Portland Historic Landmark in 1977. Ramsay Signs retrofitted the sign in the fall of 2010 to read “Portland, Oregon.” The new letters are called out with programmed chasing lamps as well as neon.  

Ramsay Signs, Inc. is the oldest operating electrical sign company in the Northwest. It was founded in 1911 by A.G. Ramsay, founder of Ramsay Sign Company and President of Brilliant Neon Corporation. Today, Ramsay Signs is one of the region’s leading sign companies, providing design, fabrication, maintenance, and engineering services to create custom signage that reflects their clients’ needs and identities. Headquartered in Portland, it operates in Seattle under the name Heath Northwest. For more information, please call 503.777.4555, or visit our website at www.ramsaysigns.com. 

International Sign Association (ISA) is a 2,300-member trade association, the members of which are manufacturers, users and suppliers of on-premise signs and other visual communications products.

Media Contacts: 

Wendy Gibson                                                                               Veronica Marzilli

Ramsay Signs & Heath Northwest                                                   DHX Advertising

503.777.4555                                                                                503.872.9616

wendy@ramsaysigns.com                                                                veronica@dhxadv.com