Total Burn Ban Now In Effect

Due to extreme fire conditions, the Washington County Fire Defense Board has implemented a burn ban effective immediately. The burn ban will be in effect until further notice.

The Burn Ban includes the following situations:

1. Recreational burning (i.e., cooking fires, backyard pits).
2. Backyard burning
3. Agricultural burning
4. Land clearing or slash burning (not associated with Oregon Department of Forestry jurisdiction)
5. Ceremonial type fires.

Typically, burn bans allow some open burning. Since early August we have had a partial burn ban that still allowed camp fires and recreational fires, but because of dry conditions, high temperatures and winds we ask that no outdoor burning take place. In these extreme fire conditions, one spark can cause a catastrophic wildfire. Please note that you can still barbecue in an approved container designed for cooking. Please keep your barbecue well away from anything that can burn however.

Individuals found to be in violation of these requirements during the burn ban, may be held liable for the cost fighting the fire and for any property damage resulting from an illegal fire. The burn ban will remain in effect until cooler temperatures minimize the fire danger.

Keep It Safe this School Year

As we find ourselves once again starting the school year, we have some safety tips for those going away to college or coming to Forest Grove to study at Pacific University. College living is often the first opportunity for young people to live outside of their home. With all the excitement and anticipation of school, new friends, and freedom, safety often gets pushed to the side. Fire safety could not be a more important issue at this juncture in life.

Every year there are a report 1,800 fires on college campuses, and additionally many more fire occur that aren’t reported. These fires account for over $9 million in property loss as well as result in critical injuries and death. Studies have found that alcohol and drug use is a factor in the starting of these fires and inability to escape the dangerous conditions.

It is important to not only look out for yourself, but those that live with you. Their actions can directly impact you and everyone else living in the building. It is also important to be fire safe if you live off-campus. It is estimated that 75% of college fire deaths occur in off campus housing.

Here are some safety tips to keep you safe during your college experience:

• Smoke Alarms Save Lives! – Smoke alarms and smoke detection systems are located throughout campus residences. Never cover or disable a smoke alarm. Keep these devices in working order. They are your best defense against fire and give early warning when a fire occurs, allowing time to escape. And remember to test them if you live off campus.
  Respond To Alarms, Always – When the alarm sounds, always take action. The fire alarm you ignore may well be the real thing. It isn’t worth the chance. Discourage people from misusing fire alarms so when they do go off, you know it’s likely the real thing.
  


• Get Out! Stay Out! Learn your exits as soon as you move in. Always know two ways out of your room (without using an elevator). When the fire alarm sounds, get out and stay out of the building until an official tells you it’s okay to return. Try not to use the same exit and practice going to and from your room with different routes throughout the year.
  


• Automatic Sprinklers…Not a Towel Rack – Your college residence has Automatic Fire Sprinklers, take care to keep them clear. Hanging items from them keeps the water spray from controlling a fire. When working properly, a fire in a room with a sprinkler will be controlled by that sprinkler almost every time. That saves lives.
  


• Cooking in??? – There are rules about candles, cooking, and other things related to flames and heat that are for everyone’s protection. Check your universities handbook for a complete list of “prohibited items.” Do not allow any of these items in your living space or anyone else’s. Remember, you are no safer than the most unsafe person in the building. Do you trust them with these items???
  


• Fire Extinguishers – Fire extinguishers can be a good item, if you know how to use them and have had practice. Just because an extinguisher hangs on the wall does not mean you need to use it. Life safety is the number one priority so secure that first. Only use a fire extinguisher if you feel competent. The best choice may be to get out and contact the fire department quickly.
  
  For more campus safety information please contact your local fire department or campus public safety.

Crews rescue elderly man who crashed into canyon off the Wilson River Highway

On Wednesday August 17th we were called to a car crash on the Wilson River Highway near the summit. When we got there we found that an elderly man had went off the roadway rolling his car down an embankment approximately 150 feet into a steep canyon. He was badly trapped in the car and our crews worked for over an hour to cut the car away from him. He then had to be gen...tly hauled out of the canyon using a rope and pulley system. In this photo Lieutenant Karen Nordstrom, as well as Firefighters Keith Baas and Geoff McFarland, and Intern Gabe Welp are bringing the injured man out of the canyon.




We were assisted by Banks Fire District and the Tillamook Fire Department on this call. The injured man was then transported by Lifeflight to the trauma center at Legacy Emmanuel in Portland with what we would consider serious injuries. This call was interesting in that a driver of another car saw dirt flying in their rear view mirror so they turned around to check and see what had happened. When they got there they saw where he had left the roadway and crashed down through a heavily timbered canyon on the north side of the highway. He ended up on his wheels but was unable to get out of the car, had the car in front not thought to check on the dust or had not seen him crash all together this could have had a much more tragic ending as he was not visible from the roadway.

Fireworks: Keep It Legal, Keep It Safe

This upcoming Fourth of July, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue (FGF&R) will be partnering again with the Forest Grove Police Department to enforce laws against the possession or use of illegal fireworks within the City of Forest Grove.

What fireworks are illegal in Oregon you may ask? The State of Oregon defines it as “fireworks which explode, flies into the air, or travels more than 6 feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air.” That means firecrackers, sky rockets, missile rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles and mortars are illegal for citizens to use in the state of Oregon.

This year a Forest Grove Fire Inspector will team up with a Forest Grove Police Officer to patrol the city of Forest Grove looking for illegal fireworks. Officials may seize illegal fireworks and fine offenders up to $1,000 per violation under City of Forest Grove Regulations. Those who misuse fireworks or allow fireworks to cause damage are liable and may be required to pay fire suppression costs or other damage. Parents are also liable for fireworks damage caused by their children.

Some people ask why some fireworks are outlawed in Oregon and not Washington? Well here are some numbers to look at. Last year there were 117 fireworks-related fires resulting in 26 injuries and causing more than $1.5 million in damage. Now compared to Washington, there were 414 fireworks related fires and 162 injuries.

On top of the joint patrol detail, FGF&R and Cornelius Fire Department will have small brush rigs out educating the public on the correct use of fireworks as well as how to properly dispose of fireworks. They will also be mobile and can easily respond to fires when dispatched.

In the last 4 years, Forest Grove has had 2 house fires start from legal fireworks being thrown away and later catching the house on fire. To properly dispose of fireworks, get a metal bucket and fill it halfway with water. Once fireworks are cooled enough to touch, submerge them into the water in the bucket and leave overnight.

If you plan to go on a trip for July 4th, also remember that all fireworks are prohibited on all beaches, state parks and campgrounds.

FGF&R encourages everyone to use the four B’s of safe fireworks use.
-Be Prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket.

-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.

-Be Aware use only legal fireworks and use them only in legal places.

If you have any questions regarding fireworks, please contact FGF&R at 503-992-3240.

Summer vacation can be deadly for teen drivers

For kids who attend Forest Grove Schools, this week will bring the start of summer vacation and with it the nearly three months of freedom that comes with the warmest months of the year. Parents do you remember that feeling? Summer vacation was about to start and you were free to go hang out with your friends and enjoy being a kid, as a kid it was all about bicycle riding and playing outside. Then as a teenager it was all about loading up your friends into the car and cruising the abundant local back roads with the music up loud until the stars came out and the cooler night air came through the windows. Do you also remember those times when maybe you had a close call - driving too fast, losing control and spinning the car out or putting it into the ditch, or maybe it was the time that you really crashed hard and the car flipped and you walked away?

The summer can be a time where we build those lifelong memories of our youth, but it is also recognized as the most deadly season for our teenage drivers. Parents now is a great time to sit down with your new drivers and have a serious chat about what you expect from them when they turn the key in the ignition and head out onto the roads. Our friends at AAA have identified the top ten deadly teen driver mistakes.

1. Risk Taking


2. Unbuckled


3. Speed


4. Rowdy drivers and passengers


5. Cell phones and texting or talking


6. Messing with the radio


7. Light night cruising


8. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol


9. Peer pressure to do things that they shouldn't be doing


10. Overconfidence

We all remember our summers off from school, and for our teenage kids they are already looking forward to summer freedom and building memories of their own, while at the same time parents are dreading this time of year. A little trust, communication, and shared responsibility now will go a long way to helping instill the values that the new driver needs to be expected to be a safe driver later. Please talk to your kids about safe driving this summer.

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer reminds us to grill safely

It's been a long and wet northwest Oregon winter and Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. For many this will kick off the unofficial start of the summer. As people roll out their barbecue grills and get ready for a summer of cooking outside we thought we would take a few minutes to offer some safety advice for the outdoor chef in your house.

• Always grill outdoors. This seems silly to most of us, especially after being cooped up in our homes all winter, but people still try and bring a small barbecue indoors from time to time. Not only is this a fire hazard but it can also fill your home with poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
  


• Keep the grill well away from the home, this includes siding, deck railings, and from under the eaves.
  


• Clean your grill regularly to remove excess grease build up from all parts of your grill.
  


• Create a safe zone of at least three feet around your grill where the kids can't play and keep the little ones, including your pets, away from your grill whenever it's in use. Always put the matches and lighter fluid away when you are done and keep these in a place where curious kids cannot get to them.
  


• If you are a fan of charcoal grills use only a small amount of charcoal starter fluid (never use gasoline or another flammable liquid to start your coals) and never add charcoal starter fluid after the fire has been lit.
  


• Do you have a propane grill? Check the condition of the propane hoses and connections before using your grill. Put a little bit of soapy water over these hoses and if you see where bubbles are being formed it means that you likely have a leak and need to make repairs before using your grill. Any cracked hoses or damaged connections need to be repaired as well before you cook.
  


• Have a fire extinguisher handy if you use propane and a garden hose if you use charcoal or wood. Never leave the grill unattended and keep an eye around the area after you are done cooking to make sure no rogue embers made their way into the dry grass or landscaping around your home.

By following these simple steps you can have a safe summer cooking under the hopefully clear but sometimes cloudy, northwest Oregon summer sky.

Forest Grove Firefighter is recognized with Oregon Public Service Award

Saturday May 14th was a special evening for our department as B Shift Firefighter Geoff McFarland received recognition at the Oregon Fire Service Meritorious Awards Banquet in Salem for his outstanding car seat inspection program. This annual event recognizes firefighters from across the State for the work that they do in our communities each and every day. Below the photo of Geoff is what the Oregon Fire Chief's Association had to say about why Geoff was chosen for recognition this year. Congratulations to Geoff for the recognition of his amazing work that he does with this project!

Geoff McFarland recipient of the 2011 Oregon Fire Chief's Association Public Service Award

"The Public Service Award may be awarded to an individual or group who has unselfishly given to the fire service, above and beyond expected performance. This individual or group will have shown distinguished public service, promoting fire and life safety in the state of Oregon.

Statistics show that 80% of all child restraints in cars are used incorrectly, and according to the National Safe Kids Campaign children are three and a half times more likely to be injured when their safety seat is improperly installed. Acting in response to these sobering statistics, Forest Grove Firefighter Geoff McFarland spent three years developing a community-wide program that gives parents the opportunity to receive a free safety seat inspection. Each month, Geoff coordinates an experienced team with members from the fire personnel, law enforcement, and the Oregon Safe Kids Coalition to volunteer at the event. Geoff is also an educator, spending quality time with everybody to ensure his visitors are capable of installing the safety seat correctly and understand how to protect their most precious cargo. In 2010 Geoff personally helped ensure that 100 car seats were safe and ready for the open road. The clinic, run out of Forest Grove Fire and Rescue headquarters, is on e of only three regularly offered to the 529,000 residents of Washington County. Making it clear that the children's safety was his top priority, Geoff's enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to this program made it an overwhelming success. Subsequently, Geoff has become a leader in the region for his promotion of fire and life safety through innovative programs similar to this one. For his life saving efforts Geoff McFarland received the Public Service award."