Fall Backyard Burn Season

It's October and that means the return of the backyard burning season in and around Forest Grove. The fall burn season will run from October 1st until December 15th, but not every day is an open burning day. Daily, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality determines if burning will be allowed based on air quality observations. To find out if burning is allowed in our area call 503.992.3242 after 8:00 a.m. for the day's burning information.

Before you burn remember that backyard burning is for yard debris only. This means you may burn things like small piles of limbs, and other landscaping debris from around your property. Backyard burning is not for large land clearing piles, construction debris, or plastics and garbage. But what if you live outside of the city, does that automatically make you eligible for agricultural burning? Not quite, actually agricultural burning is for farmers and nurseries only and only allows them to burn the debris from their agricultural operations. For instance a farmer who has a hazelnut orchard may burn limbs from his orchard and be considered agricultural burning, where if he burned pruning from the hedge around his farm house that would be considered back yard burning.

If you have any questions about backyard burning and what it means in Forest Grove feel free to call our office at 503.992.3240. To report an illegal burn please call the DEQ directly at 503.229.5393. We ask that you call the DEQ and not the Fire Department for smoke complaints because the Fire Codes do not regulate smoke complaints in our community.

SEMI-TRUCK TANKER ROLLS OVER ON NW MARTIN ROAD

Forest Grove and Cornelius Firefighters were called to the scene of a semi truck rolled over on NW Martin Road around 2:00 pm this afternoon. When crews arrived on scene a passing motorist was inside the cab of the crashed semi holding the unconscious truck driver up and preventing further injury. Crews had to use ladders to access the cab of the vehicle and remove the driver who was transported to the trauma center at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland for treatment. The semi truck had no signs visible to initially identify it’s cargo but a Forest Grove Police Officer crawled into the cab of the truck to find identification papers that indicated that the semi-truck was pulling a trailer that was full of a chemical called magnesium hydroxide at the time of the accident.

Firefighters evaluated the trailer and found that though it was damaged it was not leaking and after consulting with the regional hazardous materials response team determined that there was no threat to the public or the environment. There was however a small diesel fuel spill from the fuel tanks of the semi that firefighters cleaned up on scene and also made a small dam in the ditch to prevent diesel from getting into the rest of the road drainage system. NW Martin Road was closed for approximately two hours while crews worked to remove the injured driver and right the flipped over semi truck and trailer.

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.