COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Chief John Klum Announces Retirement Plans

Yesterday, Portland Fire Chief John Klum announced his plans to retire in June 2012 after 34 years of fire service, four of which were spent as Portland’s Fire Chief.

In a memo sent to Fire Bureau staff on January 4th, Klum wrote,

"I wanted to let all of you know that I have submitted a letter to Commissioner Leonard stating my plans to retire this coming June. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your commitment and support that not only has helped me be a better Chief the past four years, but for many of you over my entire career. I will have spent thirty-four years in a Bureau and City that I love and I am very proud to have served with you all. You are the best of the best. I look forward to the internal selection of my replacement and to be able to have a few months with them for a smooth transition."

Klum, who began sharing his retirement plans with the bureau’s leadership team in July 2010, looks forward to spending more time with his wife and two young children, ages 7 and 8. He has actively served in a supervisory capacity for Portland Fire & Rescue for 29 of his 34 years of fire service.

With Klum’s announcement, the City of Portland’s Human Resources Bureau will facilitate a recruitment for a candidate to replace Klum when he leaves the bureau in June. Selection of the final candidate will be made by Fire Commissioner Randy Leonard.

Portland Fire & Rescue is planning a celebration of service for Chief Klum in Summer 2012.　

Contact Info: PIO Lt. Justin de Ruyter 503-940-6003

Bull Run water sampling produces rare result

Yesterday, the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) received preliminary laboratory results indicating the presence of Cryptosporidium in water samples from the Bull Run source collected on December 30, 2011. The lab results show that one Cryptosporidium oocyst was present in a sample collected at the raw water intake. A second oocyst was present in a sample collected from a location further upstream. Follow-up lab results received today from samples taken at the raw water intake on January 1^st, 2012 and January 3^rd, 2012 showed no further evidence of Cryptosporidium.

PWB has informed (see letter) the the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Multnomah County Health Department of the preliminary lab results and neither agency has indicated a concern regarding any public health effects. No special precautions are necessary for Portland’s drinking water customers.

In the midst of a high volume sampling program, it is not unexpected that a small number of Cryptosporidium organisms would occasionally be found in untreated surface water. Wildlife is present in the watershed and can be a source of Cryptosporidium. Detections of Cryptosporidium in water from the Bull Run, however, are rare.

Today’s results are the first to indicate the presence of Cryptosporidium at the Bull Run raw water intake since 2002. Since the last detection of Cryptosporidium, PWB has collected over 725 samples totaling over 19,269 liters without finding it. PWB is now conducting increased monitoring at the raw water intake according to the terms identified in the Interim Sampling Plan which has been in effect since December 2010.     

PWB is arranging for additional analysis of the positive sample including DNA testing which may provide genotype information which could help PWB better understand and characterize the significance of this detection and indicate the possible animal source.

PWB will continue to implement the interim monitoring plan as it awaits a final decision from OHA regarding a potential variance to the treatment requirements of the federal Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2). OHA has indicated that it intends to issue a final decision on the variance by the end of this month. Based on the comprehensive information and monitoring data compiled and transmitted by PWB in its variance request, we do not believe these isolated detections which have prompted no public health concerns affect the City’s underlying case for a variance.

PWB will continue to closely track and report Bull Run water quality monitoring results as we seek to understand and provide additional information about this rare, but not extraordinary event.

 

David G. Shaff, Administrator, Portland Water Bureau

 

Portland Fire & Rescue is responding to reports of a HazMat Release at 10627 N Swift Way

At 10:11 am Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to reports of Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) leaking from a rail car behind 10627 N. Swift Ct.

Firefighters from the Portland Fire Station 26 (Portsmouth/University Park) were the first to arrive and assumed command of the incident. PF&R\'s HazMat team from Station 7 (8 Firefighters) also responded to assist with the incident along with Station 22 (St. Johns).

Equipped with SCBA\'s (self contained breathing apparatus), 2 members of our Hazmat Team approached the rail car with their sophisticated monitoring equipment to identify the chemical and measure how much, if any, was released.

According to Lt. Alan Bronson, a concentration of 300 ppm is considered an IDLH, or an immediate danger to life and health. The monitoring equipment was maxed out at its 200 ppm limit. Because of these high levels, Incident Command made the decision to withdraw the entry team to increase the level of their protective clothing and get additional monitoring equipment.

After donning their Level-A suits they re-entered the hot zone, along with two HazMat Technicians from Union Pacific railroad to locate and stop the leak. It was determined that a malfunctioning pressure relief valve was the source of the leak. After changing out breathing air bottles, the team was able to repair the leaking valve enough to significantly reduce the concentration.

The rail car is back in the custody of Union Pacific Railroad and no civilians or firefighters were injured in this incident.

RESPONSE STATISTICS:

2 Engines

2 Trucks

2 Battalion Chiefs

1 HazMat Unit

1 HazMat Recon Unit

1 HazMat Coordinator

28 Total Personel

Dispatched- 　10:11

Arrived- 　10:16

Recalled-    11:48

Sent by FlashAlert Editor for iPad

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Media Staging will be 2 blocks North of Swift Way, on Columbia Blvd and will be marked by a road flare.

More info will be released as it becomes available.　

Contact Info: PIO Tommy Schroeder, (503) 940-6003

Photos Courtesy of Dick Harris.

Portland Fire and Rescue responds to three structure fires in as many hours

Portland Fire crews from across the city responded to three fires in as many hours this morning--capping off a busy New Years weekend. Already this year crews have been dispatched to more than 250 emergencies, eighteen of those emergencies fire related.

At 6:49 a.m., crews from Portland Fire Station 13 (Lloyd District) arrived at 1937 NE Pacific, to a two-story home with fire showing from the back corner of the building. The building, reported to dispatch as possibly vacant, required firefighters to forcibly enter the structure before an interior fire attack could begin. Once access to the interior was made crews searched the structure for occupants while others placed water on the fire. As is common in most older homes, the construction in this building allowed fire to spread between void spaces in the walls; one crew was sent to the second story to open walls, search for fire extension and extinguish hot spots. The fire was brought under control at 7:08, though crews remained on scene until 8:47 to ensure complete extinguishment. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

At 6:56 a.m. while crews were still actively engaged in the Pacific firefight, an engine from Portland Fire Station 14 (Alberta Park) responded to reports of smoke in a commercial structure at 4120 NE Fremont; crews arrived to find the windows of the occupancy blackened by smoke--an indication of smoldering fire. Again crews were forced to enter a locked structure; once inside they found the structure full of smoke, the result of a smoldering electrical fire. A truck company from Station 1 (Old town) was called to assist the engine company; exhaust fans and salvage equipment were used to remove smoke from the building and perform salvage and overhaul, the processees of removing burned or damaged contents from a building and preventing further damage. Firefighters limited damage to an estimated $40,000--the building is valued at 1.8 million dollars. Engine 14 and Truck 1 remained on scene working until 9:17.

A third fire, this one at 15529 SE Harrison, dispatched at 9:36 a.m. The caller, the son-in-law of the buildings owner, arrived to perform maintenance work on the home and discovered smoke under pressure issuing from roof vents and cracking sounds--he immediately called 911. An engine from Portland Fire Station 31 (Rockwood) was first to arrive and confirmed a working structure fire. Firefighters entered on the first floor of the building to find the entire ground level clear of smoke and fire--without hesitation, firefighters searched the structure and fire attack crews located and made entrance into the attic which was engulfed in flames. Concurrently, crews from truck 7, equipped with both chain and circular saws, were sent to the roof to cut holes; this firefighting tactic is referred to as "vertical ventilation" and allows heat and smoke to escape the enclosed area and dramatically improves conditions for firefighters operating inside. The fire was brought under control

(recalled) at 9:59 and crews remained on scene working until 10:37 a.m. Damages were estimated at $8,650. Electrical wiring was determined to be at fault for this fire.

These fires come in the same week that three concurrent fires challenged the Portland Fire Bureau during the early morning hours of December 28th. Yesterday, marine resources were called to overlapping marine incidents: a jumper from the I205 bridge, a reported boat fire, and a surface rescue of two kayakers in the Willamette river. Contingency planning within the system allows fire response to overlapping incidents without compromise to response times or safety--something that would not be possible without adequate resources, appropriate distribution of personnel and apparatus, and cross trained firefighters.

Last year Portland Fire and Rescue responded to more than 3,000 fire incidents and more 68,000 emergency calls.　

Contact Info: PIO Gabriel Watson; Pager: 940-6003