COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Portland Fire & Rescue Will Open 30 Fire Stations, Sponsor Community Service Project on 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Portland Fire & Rescue will remember the lives of those lost, pay tribute to those who rose in service, and honor those who serve our country today by engaging in service and remembrance on September 11, 2011. 

On September 11th, all 30 Portland Fire stations will be open to the public.  Community members are invited to stop by their local station between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm for a time of reflection and remembrance with firefighters.  Participants will have the opportunity to write messages, thoughts, and reflections at the stations on pages that will become part of a large memory book.  The book will then be permanently displayed at the Historic Belmont Firehouse located at 900 SE 35th. 

Additionally, in the spirit of service, Portland Fire will sponsor a project - Visible Address Portland - that will benefit emergency responders and Portland citizens. 

"Visible addressing is vital to emergency responders' ability to find homes quickly in an emergency," said Public Information Officer Paul Corah.  "In case of a fire or medical emergency, seconds count.  Many homes in Portland do not have visible addresses and on September 11th we can change that."

Portland Fire & Rescue invites individuals, families, schools, businesses, and organizations to mark September 11, 2011 by participating in a service project that will help firefighters save lives in our community. 

Those interested in serving on September 11th are invited to stop by any Portland Fire station and pick up a "Visible Address Portland Kit".  Kits will contain door hangers for canvassers to hang on front doors of homes where there is no visible address, encouraging homeowners to take action and make their address visible.

"At Portland Fire, we believe that engaging in service and remembrance with the Portland community on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 is a productive and respectful way to honor those who died and those who continue to serve," remarked Fire Chief John Klum.
The Visible Address Portland Project aligns with the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance and established the service day as a way to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11.  This year - the 10th Anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks - is expected to be the single largest day of charitable activity and service in United States history.

More information on how you can participate in Visible Address Portland and a list of all 30 Portland Fire stations can be found at:  www.portlandonline.com/fire.

Contact Info: PIO Paul Corah 503-940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to a structure fire @ 7906 SE Harold St.

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to a structure fire @ 7906 SE Harold St.

Engine 11 was dispatched to an initial report of a shed on fire behind 7906 SE Harold St, which was upgraded enroute to a full residential fire assignment. Engine 11 arrived to find a garage fully involved in flames and extending to a nearby tree with 12-15 foot flames. Crews knocked down the fire quickly.

Crews were also assigned to tend to a victim of the fire who was found in the driveway. The 55 year old man sustained non life threatening injuries to his hand and smoke inhalation. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators are currently working on-scene for a cause determination.

STATISTICS
Call Taken 05:46
Call Dispatched 05:46
PF&R On-scene 05:58
Recall 06:15

Contact Info: PIO Tommy Schroeder
Media Pager 503-940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to Accident Stemming from Stolen Vehicle

  
At 12:58 pm, Portland firefighters responded to reports of a residential fire at 1705 NE 48th Avenue near NE 47th & NE Broadway. Initial reports indicated that there was a car on fire in a garage. Arriving first on scene, PF&R Battalion Chief Chris Babcock encountered smoke coming from the garage. Neighbors informed him that someone was inside the car.

Babcock made entry into the garage in an attempt to search for occupants, but found the car to be empty. As Portland Police and firefighters arrived on scene, it was determined that a 33-year-old woman had attempted to steal a van parked on the street near the residence. She drove through a closed garage and hit the concrete wall in the back of the garage. As she attempted to back the vehicle up, the tires spun against the floor and created the smoky conditions. After the accident, she was able to escape the vehicle on her own and was found sitting in a nearby yard.

The victim received medical attention from Portland Fire paramedic/EMTs and was transported to a local hospital with minor, non-life threatening injuries. Portland Police is continuing to investigate.　 

Contact Info: Contact Portland Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Paul Corah at 503-940-6003 with questions.

Randy In the News 8.23.11

Oregonian article about the letter Randy wrote to the EPA yesterday in light of New York's variance to covering their water supply. And then another follow-up story here.

Portland Business Journal article about Portland's possible relief from covering its water reservoirs.

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to a Residential Fire (2445 NE Everett St)

At 6:15 pm yesterday Portland Firefighters were dispatched to a residential fire at 2445 NE Everett St. When they arrived firefighters found fire in the basement of a two story home. Firefighters quickly located and extinguished the fire. The homes occupant (who was home when the fire started) got out safely.

Investigators determined that this fires cause was electrical. This fire caused Approx. $2500 in damage. The early call to 911 and the quick action of firefighters kept this fire confined to one room in the basement, although the entire basement suffered smoke damage. No one was injured in this fire.

Portland Fire & Rescue asks that residents call 911 immediately when lives or property are at risk, because seconds count.　

Contact Info: Lt. Damon Simmons, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

 

New York's LT2 relief should be good news for Portland

In response to a letter from the EPA to Senator Charles Schumer of New York stating that the EPA would be reviewing the need for New York to spend $1.6 billion to cover its Hillview Reservoir, Commissioner Leonard wrote Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Congressman Blumenauer, and Congressman Schrader a letter requesting their continued assistance with the City's efforts to avoid the substantial ratepayer costs of covering or replacing Portland's open reservoirs.    

UPDATE 08.23.11

Based on the EPA's recent announcement that they would be reviewing the LT2 rule as it pertains to open finished drinking water storage, David Shaff, Administrator of the Portland Water Bureau, submitted a letter to the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Program.  In the letter, Administrator Shaff requests that the State indefinitely suspend enforcement of the City's approved LT2 compliance schedule for the City's open reservoirs until the EPA completes its review to enable the City to consider other methods of compliance that may result from the EPA review of the rule.

See Oregonian coverage here.

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Click here to read the EPA's letter to New York Senator Charles Schumer announcing the review of the LT2 rule. -- 08.19.11

Click here to read Commissioner Leonard's letter to Portland's federal delegation requesting assistance in pursuing the alternative compliance methods being considered for New York. -- 08.22.11

Click here for Water Bureau Administrator David Shaff's letter requesting a suspension of the City's LT2 compliance schedule for open reservoirs. -- 08.23.11

Click here for a letter from the entire Portland City Council requesting the assistance of Senator Jeff Merkley in pursuing relief from the reservoir requirements of LT2. -- 09.13.11

Click here for a letter from Senators Merkley and Wyden, and Representatives Blumenauer, DeFazio, and Schrader requesting relief and flexibility from the reservoir requirements of LT2.  -- 10.24.11

Randy In the News 8.22.11

Oregonian column about Portland's new potential light at the end of the tunnel for saving money on EPA mandated water storage requirements.

Portland Firefighters Pull a Man from the Willamette River

At Approx. 10:30 am today Portland Fire & Rescue personnel were called to help a man who was in the Willamette River.  He was found clinging to a cable, along the wall, on the West side of the river, between the Burnside and Steel Bridges.  The man was noticed by people passing by.

Firefighters from Station 1 (55 SW Ash St.) quickly responded on their "Rescue Craft" which are personal watercraft specially outfitted for water rescue.  The man was quickly pulled from the water and moved to a dock where he could be transferred to a waiting ambulance.  Firefighters state that the man appeared to be completely exhausted.  He was conscious but unable or unwilling to respond to any questions. 

The individual was taken to O.H.S.U. Hospital for evaluation and care as needed.  The man was wearing pants and a shirt but no shoes and he had no ID.  The man never spoke while in the care of firefighters.  The man's identity and how or why he came to be in the river are unknown.

Contact Info: Lt. Damon Simmons, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to a Drowning in the Columbia River

At Approx. 1:00 pm today Portland Fire & Rescue responded to reports of a man who had jumped into the river from a boat and never resurfaced. The man was reportedly not wearing a life preserver when he went into the water. The incident occurred just off of the Eastern tip of Hayden Island near a wing dam.

 

Portland Fire & Rescue divers and boats responded to the area and began working to find the man. PF&R worked with Port of Portland, the Vancouver Fire Department, the Multnomah County Sheriff's and the Clark County Sheriff's. American Medical Response (ambulance) and the US Coast Guard stood by to provide assistance as needed. Unfortunately the man wasn't found.

Approx. 2 hours into the incident divers were pulled from the water and the full control of the incident was turned over to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. At this point the incident has transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation. The man's name and age won't be released by PF&R and any related questions should be directed to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

Portland Fire & Rescue asks that you wear a life preserver when in or near local rivers streams and lakes.　

Contact Info: Lt. Damon Simmons, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to Overnight Fire in Apartment Building

  

Portland firefighters responded to an apartment fire at NE Broadway late last night. Engine 19 arrived on scene at the Ellington apartments at 6524 NE Broadway at 11:06 PM to find heavy fire escaping from the upper story back windows of the unit. Crews did an aggressive fire tack keep the fire from spreading to surrounding apartments. All occupants were able to escape safely, and no civilians or firefighters sustained any injuries. "Nighttime is the most dangerous time for fire because people are sleeping, and firefighters have a heightened awareness that in the night our main priority is getting everybody out of the dwelling. We're very happy that everybody was able to escape safely," PIO Paul Corah said.

The apartment below the unit where the fire was found sustained water damage and the apartments on either side had smoke damage. Fire crews cleared the scene at 1:37 AM.

Fire investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire, which is unknown at this time. They estimate the damage to the apartment building at $50,000.

Photos courtesy of Dick Harris/Portland Fire.　

Contact Info: PIO Paul Corah 503-940-6003