Windy weather spreads two small fires into nearby structures in western Washington County

Western Washington County fire crews fought two barn fires this (Saturday April 27) afternoon; the first, in the Cornelius Rural Fire Protection District, came in just before 2:00 pm when a heat lamp in a chicken coop ignited the structure. With a strong breeze pushing the flames, the fire quickly spread to a large series of barns that were located within ten feet of the coop. An engine from the Cornelius Fire Station arrived, followed closely by a Forest Grove engine, and rapidly deployed a hose line to the burning barns. They were able to put a quick stop to the advancing flames and save nearly all of the horse equipment and tack that was stored in the barns. Cornelius and Forest Grove fire crews were assisted by the North Plains Station of Washington County Fire District #2, as well as an engine from Banks Fire District #13, with a total of approximately 20 firefighters on scene. At one point, firefighters were assisted by a neighboring farmer who was able to use a back-hoe machine to move the smoldering hay that was preventing firefighters from accessing still burning portions of the barn. There were no injuries in this fire, all but one of the young chickens in the coop perished in the blaze. The fire charred a dune buggy, a small car, as well as other barn items with estimates exceeding $50,000 in damages to the structure and it's contents. 



As fire crews cleaned up their hose from the first fire they were notified of a second barn fire, this time burning in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range at 47600 SW Easterday Road in the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District. When a crew of volunteer firefighters (who had been providing coverage of the city during the first barn fire) from the Forest Grove Fire Station arrived they found the fire in this barn was already well involved. Parts of the structure had already collapsed, and initially fire crews were hampered by a arcing power line that had dropped after being burned through. Damage to this structure was extensive, and included a large motor home, a number of tractors, a boat, and other tools and equipment. Prior to the fire, the homeowner had been using a legal burn pile to clear debris from his property when the breezy conditions blew embers into his hay storage area. A malfunctioning garden hose prevented the resident from extinguishing the small fire that quickly grew to destroy his barn and everything inside. Damage estimates to the structure, and it's contents exceeded $300,000, there were no injuries to residents, firefighters, and livestock on scene. Forest Grove firefighters were assisted by those from Banks Fire District #13, Gaston Rural Fire Protection District, Washington County Fire District #2, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and the Cornelius Fire Department; many of the crews from the first barn fire left that scene to work this second call.

A neighboring farmer uses his back-hoe to assist firefighters in removing hay north of Cornelius

A stubborn pile of burning hay kept firefighters from accessing some parts of the burning barn in Cornelius

The quickly moving fire on SW Easterday Road caused parts of the building to collapse before firefighters arrived

FGF&R Volunteers Cody Brown and Adam Wiley use a 2.5 inch hose line to extinguish hot spots in the Easterday Road Barn Fire on Saturday

A crew from Gaston Engine 1171 works to douse the flames burning on a trio of tractors at the rear of the SW Easterday Road Barn Fire in rural Forest Grove on Saturday

Firefighters remove standing sheet metal to access smoldering hot spots in the ruins of the Easterday Road Barn Fire

Firefighters honored at annual awards banquet

Each spring the Forest Grove and Cornelius Firefighter Associations sponsor an event to showcase and honor the work of some of our people over the course of the year.  Alongside our loved ones, we gathered last Friday at the Sonrise Church in Forest Grove to recognize some of the special individual and team efforts that made a difference in Forest Grove and Cornelius in 2012.

Awards and Honors Presented at the Event:

Years of Service Recognition

5 years of service 2007-2012

• Firefighter Chad Toomey, Volunteer's Derek Cardelli, Robert Conrath, and Chaplain Dexter Danielson, Career Lieutenant Phil Duncan

 10 years of service 2002 -2012

•  Captain Steve Black

 15 years of service 1997-2012

• Volunteer Lieutenant Stephan Prichard, Administrative Assistant Sharon Cox

 20 years of service 1992-2012

• Volunteer Battalion Chief Rob Hutchens, Fire Inspector Chris Woodford

 25 years of service 1987-2012

• Lieutenant Tad Buckingham

35 years of service 1977-2012

• Volunteer Division Chief Rick Schneider

Unit Citation Awards:

Unit Citation Awards are given on a case by case basis to teams of firefighters that work together during an emergency response where a significant positive outcome occurred.  

Captain Dwight Lanter, Fire Inspector Chris Woodford, Firefighters Matt Rawls, Ted Penge, Volunteer Lieutenant Brooke Brown, and Intern Emmett Middaugh for their actions on 29, April 2012 that led to the successful rescue of an unconscious trapped apartment fire victim.
Volunteer Interns Colin Scott and Andrew Jensen for their actions on September 18, 2012 that led to the successful resuscitation of a cardiac arrest victim in the 600 block of South 5th Avenue in Cornelius.  

C Shift Captain Marc Reckmann, Volunteer Lieutenants Ty Augustine and John Phelan, and Volunteer Firefighters Andrea Pumarejo, Andrew Jensen, Steven Morelan, Derek Cardelli, and Steven Grieson for their actions that led to the successful resuscitation of a cardiac arrest victim on 30 July 2012. 

Award of Excellence:

The Award of Excellence Commendation was presented for the first time ever at this year's banquet, going to Support Volunteer Andrew Lanter.  Andrew is part of our non combat volunteer program and in 2012 he led efforts to update and improve the joint fire and police command and special operations trailer.  Over the course of the year Drew also coordinated two very successful fundraisers for the non profit firefighter's association, as well as organized our department's participation in Forest Grove's annual Founder's Day Corn Roast where we are tasked with keeping the fires burning that roast the corn. 

 Fire Chief's Commendations:

Each year the Fire Chief personally selects one person from each department to recongize with the Fire Chief's Commendation.  This is an award that goes to those people that Chief Kinkade feels best exemplify the values, mission, and goals of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Cornelius Fire Department.  

For his outstanding work in the field of emergency medicine that in 2012 included taking part in a number of protocol studies, and countless hours of work to ensure that our firefighters and EMT's are always ready to respond with nothing but the highest training and care possible, Fire Chief Michael Kinkade presented his annual Forest Grove Fire Chief's Commendation to Firefighter/Paramedic Will Murphy. 

Chief Kinkade presented the Cornelius Fire Chief's Commendation to Fire Prevention Matt Johnston.  He recognized Matt for his dedication to improving the departments communication systems in 2012 that included updated radio and satellite phone systems.  Matt also received this award for his work to revamp the fire inspection program and create a regular routine fire safety inspection system for businesses in the city of Cornelius.   

Rookies of the Year:

Intern Jordan Ruiz (FGF&R), and Volunteer Firefighter Garth Culbertson (CFD) earned the Rookie of the Year award for 2012 because of their dedication and service to the department and community.  Both were recognized for things that go above and beyond their charisma, and engaging personality.  Jordan for some of the work that he has done to not only learn as an intern, but to provide training in the field of emergency medicine where he is currently a Paramedic, and Garth for his outstanding dedication and involvement with station duties and community programs. 

Firefighters of the Year:

Volunteer Jeff Bade & Career Firefighter Tony Carter (FGF&R), and Volunteer Kevin Ritcheson (CFD).  These men were recognized for their involvement in a variety of projects that they organized and carried through to fruition.  Jeff Bade has revised the department's pre-fire planning programs and is working diligently to improve these documents by having them available on the computers that are installed in the apparatus.  Tony Carter received high marks for his interaction with the volunteer firefighters, and a selfless compassion to remain a positive mentor to those around him.  Kevin Ritcheson has worked in the last year to improve the community of Cornelius through safety and prevention.  He has led the department's public education efforts, and recently brought a child safety seat inspection program to Cornelius for the first time.    

Officers of the Year:

Volunteer Battalion Chief Rob Hutchens & Fire Inspector Chris Woodford (FGF&R), and Volunteer Lieutenant Jason Lawson (CFD).  Officer of the Year awards go beyond the typical leadership role that is expected of every officer in our agencies.  Rob Hutchens was honored with this award because of his exceptional dedication to training new firefighters and helping others progress in their careers.  Rob, a Captain with the Portland Fire Bureau, coordinates an educational seminar that prepares firefighters for the stressful situations that come with entry level and promotional examinations and interview processes, in 2012 he assisted dozens of Cornelius and Forest Grove Firefighters with hiring processes here and elsewhere.  Chris Woodford has led our water rescue program since inception, he was nominated for this award because of the amount of time and efforts he has put into firefighter training in not just our water rescue program, but for some of the unique and new training props and aids he has built for firefighters to work with at our stations.  Jason Lawson, a volunteer at both Cornelius and Forest Grove, remains one of our consistently dedicated volunteers.  He regularly fills the voids in the much smaller, and lighter staffed, Cornelius Fire Station; taking time away from his family to help create a safer situation in Cornelius.  In 2012 Jason led fire prevention efforts at the Pacific University Campus where he is employed, and he also coordinated firefighter training on campus to help make our crews more familiar with the campus and their buildings.

     

 

From College Intern to full time Firefighter Cassie Knierim is ready to work

After recent federal grant funding allowed for a series of promotions across the shifts of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, we didn't have to go far to fill the final void at the Firefighter rank.  Starting April 8th, our very own college intern Cassandra "Cassie" Knierim will make the switch and join our full time Firefighter ranks. 

With the anticipation of grant moneys impacting the department's ranks, FGF&R began a competitive hiring process last fall that brought around 100 candidates from all across the Pacific Northwest into Forest Grove for testing.  After achieving one of the highest scores on what candidates described as a "grueling" written test, Cassie was invited back for the physical evaluation and oral interview board where she continued to excel, wowing the interview panel to earn a final one on one interview with Fire Chief Michael Kinkade.

Upon completing interviews with the final five candidates, Chief Kinkade first went to Chad Toomey to fill the initial firefighter opening, but when another position opened he knew immediately that Cassie was the right fit for Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the community of Forest Grove.  For starters the twenty four year old avid outdoors enthusiast brings a tremendous amount of ability and education to Forest Grove.  Part of what set Cassie apart is her tremendous knowledge and education, she earned a degree in physics from Montana State University, and completed an internship focused on firefighter safety tools with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  During her interviews Cassie referenced how her educational background and science knowledge was something she that she believed separated her from other candidates, and that she had future goals of using these experiences to bring a more scientific look at how firefighters do things.  As the fire service has evolved and continues to change, we expect that Cassie's science background will be able to improve not only firefighter safety but our way of responding to emergencies in Forest Grove.  Cassie will be initially assigned to a training regiment to help transition her from intern to paid firefighter, but once she completes that process she will join one of our three shifts where she will be the second full time female firefighter in the 119 year history of our agency.

Welcome aboard Cassie, we are excited to work with you!