An inside look at your fire department. Sharing our operations with you and your feedback with us all in an effort to work better in service to our community. Career and Volunteer Firefighters from Forest Grove and Cornelius provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical response, as well as fire prevention and life safety education services to the residents of the Cities of Forest Grove and Cornelius, and the surrounding rural communities in beautiful western Washington County.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
New hires and promotions recieve their badges during city council ceremony
Monday, May 13, 2013, was a special night for Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, as three of our employees received their new badges during a ceremony at the weekly meeting of the Forest Grove City Council. This is a ceremony that we take part in whenever we hire a new employee, or promote internally, and is meant to not only recognize them for the hard work that earned them this honor, but also to instill pride in service to our community. During this ceremony Fire Chief Michael Kinkade gave a short speech, and then read the oath of office to three employees, Fire Inspector/Captain Chris Woodford, Lieutenant Tony Carter, and Firefighter Cassie Knierim. Inspector Woodford's badge was pinned to his Class A Uniform by his wife Robin, Lieutenant Carter's family his wife Samantha and sons Bryce and Nolan placed his new badge, and Chief Kinkade pinned Firefighter Knierim's badge on for her. Congratulations to all three of these well deserving individuals.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Forest Grove House Fire Traps Family Pets Inisde
On the afternoon of Wednesday May 8, 2013 firefighters were dispatched to a report of smoke from a home at 1632 Cedar Street in “Old Town” Forest Grove. Just a few blocks from their fire station, when crews arrived they found smoke and flames coming from a bedroom window, and heavy brown smoke coming from the roof of the home. Early on, Incident Commanders were made aware that the resident of the home was outside and safe, but that her two pet dogs were somewhere in the home. Lieutenant Tony Carter from FGF&R found the dogs, unconscious and not breathing, in an upstairs room, and immediately brought them out of the smoky home as the firefighters from his crew extinguished the fire burning in the first floor bedroom.
Firefighter Randy Hoodenpyl and Lieutenant Jason Kellar from the Gaston Rural Fire Protection District assisted Lieutenant Carter, and firefighters Brad Shinpaugh and Cassie Knierim from Forest Grove with providing oxygen and medical care to the injured dogs. Fire and Police Chaplain Dexter Danielson then took the dogs and the homeowner to the Pacific Avenue Veterinary Clinic in Forest Grove, where the dogs began to recover. They were then transported to a clinic in Hillsboro that was capable of providing 24 hour care.
Fire investigators believe the fire is a result of a series of overloaded extension cords and power strips inside the bedroom of the home. The homeowner was outside using a power leaf blower doing yard work at the time of the fire, and was notified by a passerby that smoke was coming from her bedroom window. The 1948 built home had exterior walls made from concrete, so structurally the house is still in excellent shape, unfortunately there was smoke damage throughout the home and estimates are expected to range between $40,000 - $60,000 worth of damage to the contents and structure. Approximately 22 firefighters from Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Gaston responded to the fire, that took about 30 minutes to contain. Crews remained on scene for a few hours to extinguish hotspots in the walls and ceilings. Thankfully, there were no injuries to the resident or firefighters.
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| Smoke billows from the home as fire crews arrived on scene |
Firefighter Randy Hoodenpyl and Lieutenant Jason Kellar from the Gaston Rural Fire Protection District assisted Lieutenant Carter, and firefighters Brad Shinpaugh and Cassie Knierim from Forest Grove with providing oxygen and medical care to the injured dogs. Fire and Police Chaplain Dexter Danielson then took the dogs and the homeowner to the Pacific Avenue Veterinary Clinic in Forest Grove, where the dogs began to recover. They were then transported to a clinic in Hillsboro that was capable of providing 24 hour care.
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| Lieutenant Tony Carter (left) and Firefighter Cassie Knierim provide care to the injured dogs |
Fire investigators believe the fire is a result of a series of overloaded extension cords and power strips inside the bedroom of the home. The homeowner was outside using a power leaf blower doing yard work at the time of the fire, and was notified by a passerby that smoke was coming from her bedroom window. The 1948 built home had exterior walls made from concrete, so structurally the house is still in excellent shape, unfortunately there was smoke damage throughout the home and estimates are expected to range between $40,000 - $60,000 worth of damage to the contents and structure. Approximately 22 firefighters from Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Gaston responded to the fire, that took about 30 minutes to contain. Crews remained on scene for a few hours to extinguish hotspots in the walls and ceilings. Thankfully, there were no injuries to the resident or firefighters.
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| Fire crews from FGF&R prepare to ventilate the roof of the burning structure to remove dangerous heated gasses that were building up inside the home |
Monday, May 6, 2013
Finding and actually getting to your home is the key to protecting it during a wildfire
The rainy winter, and now warm spring, is making for some explosive plant growth in our area. All of those beautiful green leaves growing from new tree limbs can make it difficult for fire engines to access your home however, so now is the perfect time to get out the pruning tools and open up your driveway so emergency vehicles can safely and quickly get through to your home.
In the event of a major wildfire where homes are being evacuated, fire crews will be going through neighborhoods ahead of the fire trying to determine where they can do the most good. One of the things that they use to determine if they can protect your home is how quickly they can access it, and how easy it is to get out of there in a hurry if needed One of the more common arguments we find, is that people compare our fire engines to logging or rock trucks. Though the vehicles are similar, fire engines are not the same as logging or rock trucks in that our required emergency lighting, and on other equipment on top of and alongside our engines, can easily be damaged by low hanging limbs. That's why we suggest that you make sure your driveway meets the following criteria for emergency vehicle access:
One other key for protecting your home is our ability to find it quickly. All of the fancy computer based mapping programs can't beat a plainly visible address sign. In our area so many roads can be driveways, or they can be logging or farming roads, having numbers posted that show us where your home is can save time and allow us to get on scene faster. Make sure your address numbers are at least four inches tall, and are placed so they are clearly visible from both directions of travel, as well as during day or night driving conditions. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue offers free address signs to our rural residents, they can be ordered by calling 503-992-3240 during normal business hours (Monday through Friday 8-5)
Finally, for those of you that protect your property by using a gate we hope that you would consider ways for firefighters to access your property without having to damage the gate. All Washington County Fire Departments use the Knox Company's fire department access products that include key boxes, automatic gate switches, and padlocks that only your local fire department has the key to. You can research the Knox products by going to their website http://www.knoxbox.com/
As with anything, if you have questions or would like your driveway evaluated, please contact us at 503-992-3240.
In the event of a major wildfire where homes are being evacuated, fire crews will be going through neighborhoods ahead of the fire trying to determine where they can do the most good. One of the things that they use to determine if they can protect your home is how quickly they can access it, and how easy it is to get out of there in a hurry if needed One of the more common arguments we find, is that people compare our fire engines to logging or rock trucks. Though the vehicles are similar, fire engines are not the same as logging or rock trucks in that our required emergency lighting, and on other equipment on top of and alongside our engines, can easily be damaged by low hanging limbs. That's why we suggest that you make sure your driveway meets the following criteria for emergency vehicle access:
- Basically you want to keep a drivable "box" that is at least 15 feet wide by 14 feet tall. Driveways that serve more then one home may need additional width, up to 20 feet wide.
- Make sure your driveway is in good shape, rock is packed and covering the surface of the road, there are no ruts, large holes, or washboards.
- Create a space large enough for fire engines to turn around at the end of your driveway. One of the key components to firefighters being able to protect a home is their ability to turn and run quickly if the advancing wildfire becomes too dangerous. If you have to do a multi-point turn to get your pickup or car out of the driveway in the morning then it's a good indicator that we'll need more room for a fire engine.
- Driveways over 1,000 feet long should have at least one wide spot where two fire engines can pass each other. On rural fires where there are no fire hydrants, we will be bringing larger trucks called water tenders to the fire, these tenders will dump their water and then head to the nearest hydrant to fill up and return to the fire; having a place for trucks to pass each other can make a huge difference in how efficiently we are able to fight a fire on your property.
One other key for protecting your home is our ability to find it quickly. All of the fancy computer based mapping programs can't beat a plainly visible address sign. In our area so many roads can be driveways, or they can be logging or farming roads, having numbers posted that show us where your home is can save time and allow us to get on scene faster. Make sure your address numbers are at least four inches tall, and are placed so they are clearly visible from both directions of travel, as well as during day or night driving conditions. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue offers free address signs to our rural residents, they can be ordered by calling 503-992-3240 during normal business hours (Monday through Friday 8-5)
Finally, for those of you that protect your property by using a gate we hope that you would consider ways for firefighters to access your property without having to damage the gate. All Washington County Fire Departments use the Knox Company's fire department access products that include key boxes, automatic gate switches, and padlocks that only your local fire department has the key to. You can research the Knox products by going to their website http://www.knoxbox.com/
As with anything, if you have questions or would like your driveway evaluated, please contact us at 503-992-3240.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
It's time to get ready for wildfire season - start by creating a defensible space
It's May, and during each week of the month we will highlight a different way that you can take steps now to help protect your property this summer. For this first post, let's talk a little about defensible space. It's tough for modern northwest Oregon residents to appreciate the shear size of a massive threatening wildfire, it's been decades since a large fire occurred in our part of Oregon, but these fires can be so big that as firefighters are stretched to the limits they must begin to prioritize what homes can be protected, and that starts with the defensible space around your home.
The amount of defensible space you need is dependent on the terrain around your home, if you live in steep country you will likely need to make more room as wildfires burn more severely up steep slopes, but a good rule of thumb is to start with the first thirty (30) feet around your home. We call this initial 30 feet the primary fire break, and it truly is the best line of defense for not only protecting your home from a wildfire, but it can help prevent a home fire from spreading to the woods too. If you live with the woods in view of your home, these are some simple steps that you can take to improve your primary fire break:
Beyond this primary fire break it's also important to consider a secondary fire break. A secondary fire break should extend at least 100 feet beyond your initial 30 feet of primary fire break. Steps you can take inside your secondary fire break include:
The amount of defensible space you need is dependent on the terrain around your home, if you live in steep country you will likely need to make more room as wildfires burn more severely up steep slopes, but a good rule of thumb is to start with the first thirty (30) feet around your home. We call this initial 30 feet the primary fire break, and it truly is the best line of defense for not only protecting your home from a wildfire, but it can help prevent a home fire from spreading to the woods too. If you live with the woods in view of your home, these are some simple steps that you can take to improve your primary fire break:
- Get rid of the dead stuff. Any vegetation, trees, brush, grass that is dead or dying needs to be removed from this area, but don't stop there. Check your roof, gutters, around your siding and foundation, as well as under decks and porches to make sure limbs, needles, cones, and leaves, are all cleared out. In a wildfire sparks can blow ahead of the fire front for long distances, and this debris can easily be ignited.
- Store firewood and other combustible materials at least 20 feet away from your home or structures.
- Trim back the trees that are in direct contact with the home's roof or siding materials, and consider removing any and all trees that are within your primary fire break.
- Limit barkdust, wood chips, and other combustible landscaping materials that directly contacts your home.
- Keep your landscaping in this area watered, and only plant native, or fire resistant plants in this primary fire break. A pamphlet on fire resistant plants can be found here http://www.firefree.org/images/uploads/FIR_FireResPlants_07.pdf
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| An example of defensible spaces is shown here. Photo credit to www.readyforwildfire.org |
Beyond this primary fire break it's also important to consider a secondary fire break. A secondary fire break should extend at least 100 feet beyond your initial 30 feet of primary fire break. Steps you can take inside your secondary fire break include:
- Keeping the forest around your home healthy with effective thinning allowing trees to mature and grow. Remove any dead or dying trees from this area and allow enough space for trees to avoid massed contact with each other.
- Remove the "ladder fuels" that allow a fire burning on the ground to spread to the forest canopy. Once the tops, or crowns, of the trees begin to burn a "crown fire" becomes the major threat that makes firefighting efforts very complicated and difficult. Ladder fuels are the brush and small trees near the forest floor that can easily spread the flames into the tree tops.
- Talk to your neighbors, organize work parties to work together and share resources such as tools and heavy equipment to help clear these areas.
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| The value of a defensible space can be seen in this photo. Photo credit to the Sacremento Bee www.sacbee.com |
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Windy weather spreads two small fires into nearby structures in western Washington County
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.
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| A neighboring farmer uses his back-hoe to assist firefighters in removing hay north of Cornelius |
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| A stubborn pile of burning hay kept firefighters from accessing some parts of the burning barn in Cornelius |
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| The quickly moving fire on SW Easterday Road caused parts of the building to collapse before firefighters arrived |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Firefighters remove standing sheet metal to access smoldering hot spots in the ruins of the Easterday Road Barn Fire |
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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:
5 years of service 2007-2012
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.
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
- Captain Steve Black
- 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 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.
Monday, April 1, 2013
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!
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!
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