Lieutenant promotion wraps up a series of personnel moves at FGF&R

The 365 days between October 2012 and October 2013 have been full of changes in the staffing at your local firehouse.  Two federal grants, and a retirement have allowed five of our longtime staff members to receive promotions and work in new roles, and brought three new firefighters into the group; the final of these promotions became official this week when firefighter Will Murphy promoted to the role of Shift Lieutenant with our agency, thus filling the final vacancy left by the July retirement of longtime Captain Dwight Lanter.

Will calls Portland his home, where he and his wife Maria raise their three beautiful children, he has been an employee of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue since 2006, and also serves as the department's emergency medical officer. This special EMS role makes him responsible for overseeing what truly is a bulk of our agency's work; with over 70% of the agency's responses being for calls needing emergency medical assistance, this role is obviously a major task that involves establishing policies, protocols, equipment, and training for the career and volunteer firefighters at FGF&R.  An Oregon certified EMT-Paramedic himself, Will routinely works with other Paramedics as well as Emergency Room Physicians from all across Oregon to ensure that the emergency medical program at Forest Grove truly matches or exceeds the high standards for patient care that we all expect if we had to call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency.  In 2010 Will received the EMS Impact award from the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services, and in 2011 he was honored as the recipient of the Forest Grove Fire Chief's Award to recognize his outstanding commitment to emergency medicine in our region.  Fire Chief Michael Kinkade had this to say about Will's promotion "Will is the final piece of a great series of promotions that I think will revolutionize how this department works in the community.  He is a true leader, and what he's already done in our EMS system will without a doubt transfer over to how we works with the firefighters here and our neighbors in Forest Grove."

Will Murphy showcases airway management tools that Paramedics use in the field to visitors at our annual Open House

Will's first official day as Lieutenant will be October 3rd, where he takes over as second in command of our A Shift behind Captain Joe Smith; along with three staff firefighters, these five work together with two college interns as one of the three rotating 24 hour shifts at the Forest Grove Fire Station.  In the near future Will plans on continuing his EMS Officer position and as he transitions into the Lieutenant role he hopes to continue to involve Forest Grove in the regional discussion of emergency medicine, as well as work with our younger group of firefighters here to mentor and prepare them for success in their own careers.  Congratulations Will.

An official oath, and swearing in ceremony for Will is scheduled for the Forest Grove City Council meeting on the evening of November 25th.   

Preparing your car for the winter driving season

Throughout the month of October we'll  be showcasing examples of what you can do to be ready for not only a major disaster type of event, but those local emergencies that may effect only you.  This week we're talking about the upcoming winter driving season, and what you can do with your car now to be ready for a problem during a winter road trip.  It's already snowed in the Cascades, and even if you have a big four wheel drive SUV or pickup, you should still have an emergency kit with you before you head out for holiday visits, ski trips, or whatever takes you to the highways this winter.  

First let's talk about your car itself.  Start where the rubber meets the road, and evaluate your tires.  This starts with a simple visual inspection to look for any damage, and you can use a penny upside down to easily check the depth of your tread.  When you place an upside down penny into the tread grooves, if you can cover any part of President Lincoln's head you have enough tire tread to meet the minimum standard.  When is the last time you checked your spare tire to make sure it's inflated and in good shape?  Would you rather find out that your spare is flat now or when you are sitting on the side of Highway 26 near Government Camp in the blowing snow?  After looking at the visual condition of the tires, it's also essential that you check for proper air pressure, using a simple tire pressure gauge available from an auto parts store, and by reading the side walls of your tires you can determine if you are within the safe operating range.  If you aren't sure about your tires, or can't inspect them yourselves, taking them to a local tire shop is the best way to make sure you are ready for winter.  Next, it's a good idea to evaluate all of the vehicle fluids (motor oil, transmission lubricants, brake fluid, power steering, anti-freeze, etc.) to make sure they are fresh, clean, and at the appropriate level - your vehicle owners guide will help you do this, but if you don't have one there are resources online and even at the local library to help you identify where and how to check these things out.  Your vehicle battery is often an overlooked component of your car, but the cold winter months can be hard on a battery and often times a battery will fail without warning, so checking your connections to make sure they are tight and corrosion free is a good first step for battery care.  Also, batteries have about an average of a four year life span, so if your battery has been in there for awhile you may want to consider replacing it.   Finally, check out your windshield wipers, and all of your lights to make sure they are in good shape and working.  Having an extra set of lamps in your car, and the tools to replace them, is also a good idea for your emergency kit.

So what about that emergency kit, what should one carry in their car in case the worst happens?

• A small assortment of hand tools, Phillips and slotted head screw drivers, a pocket knife, pliers, wrenches, even a small socket set, are all handy tools to have if an emergency happens, or a simple roadside repair job is needed.
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• A small folding shovel 
• Battery jumper cables  
• Tire chains (and practiced putting them on!)
• Fuses that match what your car needs, and extra lamp bulbs and headlights.
• Wool blanket or heavy sleeping bag
• Extra fluids for your car
• ABC rated fire extinguisher that is charged and accessible
• Road flares
• Gloves, socks, an extra jacket, and a pair of water proof boots
• Duct tape
• Spray lubricant like WD-40 or similar
• Non perishable food, and a can opener if you bring canned food
• Water proof matches or lighter, and fire starter materials like paper.
• Car charger for your cell phone
• The all important toilet paper! 

Most of this can fit into a small plastic tote or tool box that can easily find a home in your trunk.  It may seem like overkill to carry these things with you, and we hate to sound all doom and gloom, but wouldn't you rather have simple things like this and not need them then need them and not have them?   

Preparing for a Safe Halloween Holiday Season

Ah yes, October 1st is here, we've had our first big storm of the season, and you can most definitely feel fall in the air.  You've probably noticed the stores have been full of seasonal decorations and Halloween costumes for a few weeks now, especially if you're a parent of a little one that points and begs for you to take them through the costume section when you make a quick stop for groceries.  So for those of you that are decorating your home, and preparing your kids' costumes, we thought now would be the perfect time to talk about a few simple things you can do to make for a safe Halloween season.

Decorating

Halloween decorations don't quite put the ultimate test to the electrical power grid like Christmas does, but that doesn't stop many of you from putting up lights and making your home feel scary in other ways.  Let's talk about lights for a second, as orange colored lights are definitely becoming more popular this time of year.  First off, never use lights that are damaged, if you can see bare wires, or even if the insulation is cracking or showing discoloration, it's time to replace those lights.  With lights come extension cords, because those electrical outlets are never close enough to where you need your lights to go.  Use only good quality extension cords that are the appropriate length for the task at hand.  Light duty cords offer poor protection against a problem in the electrical circuit, and coiling up the excess cord can generate heat where you don't want it to be generated.  Never run a cord through doorways, under rugs, or use staples to attach them to walls or ceilings, as all of these can damage a cord enough to start a fire with it.  

Even if you aren't into making your property look like a haunted house, candles are a popular, and simple, way to make your home feel more like fall, and it seems the stores are full of pumpkin scented things you can burn this time of year.  First off, there are so many battery operated "candles" that you can choose instead, but if you like the ambiance of a real candle we ask that you please use them in a safe location.  Keep candles away from things that can burn, this means at least three feet away from drapes, curtains, and furniture.  Always use candles on a solid surface, and put them in a holder that won't tip over easily.  Finally, be sure and blow that pumpkin scented goodness out before you leave the room.  

What about corn stalks, hay bales, and all the rest of the stuff, it's all pretty harmless right?  Yes and no, like anything - it's the how you use it that makes a difference.  With any sort of combustible decorative material you want to keep them away from things that can get hot like fire places, stoves, kitchen appliances, and light fixtures.  It's also really important that you keep exit paths and doors clear and accessible at all times.  

Costumes

    

Volunteer Firefighter Robert Bade hands out glowsticks to kids on Halloween as part of our annual "Be seen at Halloween" safety campaign. 

Halloween night itself is still weeks away, but if you are preparing the costumes for your family now we hope that you consider a few very important safety points.  First is that it's all about being seen to be safe on Halloween.  With the ultimate kid's candy holiday falling on a work night again this year, there will be a fair mix of drivers and trick or treaters on the roads, reflective materials on the costumes, carrying bright flashlights, or even a simple glow stick can make the difference in being seen by a driver or not.  A costume that affords some visibility for your child is also important, make sure they can see out of their masks and get ups, so they too can be on the lookout for danger as they rush from place to place for the sugary gold.   Costumes should also be made out of a material that is flame resistant, you should avoid plastics and synthetic materials that can easily burn.  Finally, talk to your littlest ones and make sure everyone knows how to "stop, drop, and roll".  It's a simple thing that they can practice at home to be ready if something bad does happen and their costume catches fire.

All of this may seem silly to you, but we hope that you consider these points while you prepare for the season.  If you have questions about the fire safety of your home you can always call us at 503-992-3240 and we would be happy to help you.      

Firefighters free man trapped in beet harvester in rural Forest Grove

Just after 3:30 pm on the afternoon of Thursday September 26th, 2013 Firefighters from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Cornelius Fire Department were called to the middle of a beet crop field where a farmer had become trapped in a “beet digger” harvester. The crew of three farm workers were previously harvesting beets in the field in the 1700 block of SW Stringtown Road when they reported that the machine had become clogged with beets and soil. One of the workers jumped up to the top of the harvester, which basically digs beets from the soil and transfers them via conveyor belt to a truck that travels along side of it, and began to try and fix the clogged machine when he slipped and his foot and lower leg became tangled in the conveyor belt and ended up badly trapped. When firefighters arrived the farm workers were using large tools to try and keep the working parts off the trapped man’s legs, and initially firefighters attempted to use
large pry bars to no avail either. Firefighters were able to deploy two hydraulic rescue tools, like those typically used on car crash scenes, to apply enough leverage to spread the working parts of the harvester and after about 30 minutes of working on it, they were able to free the man from the machine.

firefighters begin to use hand tools to work to free the injured farm worker

 The injured 40’s aged man, who was conscious, alert, and talking to firefighters throughout the incident, he was transferred to a waiting Metro West Ambulance and taken to the trauma center at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland with non life threatening injuries, but what appeared to be moderate injuries to his lower leg.

after about 30 minutes of working on the machine, firefighters were able to free the injured worker

This was the second in a series of serious traumatic injury calls for Forest Grove’s Firefighters on Thursday afternoon, as crews were already responding to a crash on the Wilson River Highway west of the city that injured two people at the same time of this incident. One of these injuries was considered serious enough and was also transported to the trauma center in Portland.

New Blog Address

If you are subscribed to updates or regularly follow our blog you might have noticed a new logo at the top and a new web address for this page.  A little history and why we made the change.  In 2010 when longtime Fire Chief Chis Asanovic retired from the Cornelius Fire Department, the City of Cornelius and the City of Forest Grove entered into an agreement to share administrative services.  This sharing of the Fire Chief eventually led to increased cooperation between the neighboring agencies, allowing for more firefighter training and standardization of practices and equipment then ever before, all for the good of the entire community.  For decades before this, the two fire departments routinely supported each other on fire calls but rarely practiced together and both had different styles, procedures, and equipment that at times led to less than desirable situations on emergency scenes.  With this new partnership we were able to break down some of these walls and eliminate differences, eventually getting to a point where the two agencies can work seamlessly on calls, thus allowing for a more efficient response to emergencies in both cities and rural fire districts.  

One of the benefits of this partnership is the sharing of specialized resources and that's what gets us to this blog.  With the retirement of Chief Asanovic, Cornelius lost their Public Information Officer, while at Forest Grove the Fire Chief assigns this information and education duty to the staff of the Fire Prevention Division.  With an already established, effective, and well regarded, public information program in place in Forest Grove, the natural step was to share the efforts with the Cornelius Fire Department so there was one voice from the agency when discussing an incident or a department program.   

We hope you enjoy the change, hopefully we'll be blogging a lot more about the things you want to know and the things we hope will make our entire community safer in the future.  As always, don't hesitate to comment here or drop us a private email to let us know what we can do better.  Our Fire Prevention Chief David Nemeyer can be reached at 503-992-3177 or via email at dnemeyer@forestgrove-or.gov

 

Family Practices Fire Escape Plan and Escapes Unharmed

On the evening of Sunday, September 8, Firefighters were dispatched to a house at located at 1112 Alyssum Ave in Forest Grove. Firefighters arrived a few minutes later to find heavy amounts of fire coming from the garage and spreading up the wall as well as into the attic. At this time the incident commander called for a 2nd Alarm bring additional fire crews from neighboring departments. Using multiple hose lines, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a majority of the flames. After approximately 15 minutes, all flames in the garage and the attic were extinguished. Firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading into the living por tion of the house.

At the time of the fire, a mother and four children were home, they were able to get out of the house unharmed. When the mother discovered the flames shooting out of the garage, she instructed the two older children to follow their fire escape plan, which was to get out of the house and meet at a mailbox across the street. While they did this, the mother was able to get the younger children from the dinner table and exit the house. The children had been taught to do this and practiced many times, and helped prevent anyone from getting injured by the fire. 

Firefighters remained on scene for multiple hours making sure all hot spots were put out. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the probable area of origin is located near a refrigerator in the garage. The fire is initially estimated to have caused at least $40,000 in damage.

Forest Grove Fire and Rescue urges parents to practice a fire escape plan with their children. Teach children to get out of the house and stay out, to meet at a pre-determined place like a mailbox, a tree, end of a driveway or a neighbor's house. Also practice knowing two ways out of your house. It is suggested to practice a fire escape drill every few months like children do at school. Tonight's fire is a good example of how a fire escape plan worked and prevented harm.

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was assisted on scene by Cornelius Fire Department, Hillsboro Fire, Banks Fire and Gaston Fire.  

Popular young shift Lieutenant promotes to Captain role

After a process that saw five extremely talented individuals compete for the position, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue is pleased to announce the promotion of Tony Carter to the rank of Captain.  A local "Grover", the 35 year old Carter grew up here and along with his wife Samantha and their two little boys, they still proudly call Forest Grove home.  After graduating from Forest Grove High School in 1996, Tony came to the fire department initially as a volunteer who wanted to help in his community.  He entered our college student "sleeper" program shortly after that, and gained valuable practical experience living at the fire station while attending Portland Community College and the College of Emergency Services where he completed his coursework in Fire Science and Emergency Medicine, earning certification as an Oregon Paramedic.  During the summers of his college years Tony also worked for the Oregon Department of Forestry out of the Forest Grove Protection Unit working as part of a wildland firefighting crew.  In October 2005 Tony went to work full time for our agency and the promising young man continued to shine, leading the revamp of our wildland firefighting program that eventually saw the purchase of our first ever apparatus that were specifically designed to combat wildfires in our area.  Captain Tony Carter will take the reigns of our C Shift starting on September 1st, where he fills the vacancy of left by Captain Dwight Lanter when he retired earlier this summer after 28 years of service to Forest Grove. 

New C Shift Captain Tony Carter

Though Tony just recently became a Lieutenant, the choice of promoting him to Captain has been a popular one with the firefighters he works with.  Senior Firefighter Ted Penge said "Tony is a great guy to work for, he truly lets his people feel empowered to do their jobs and do them well.  He supports your projects and work without micro managing, and he is fair with everyone he meets, he's an excellent pick for a leader in our department.".  Firefighter Rick Ilg is also excited for Tony mainly because of what he has accomplished during his short time as a Lieutenant "Look at what he's done already, so much positive stuff comes from that man, and I expect nothing else than for him to continue building on things now that he has full charge of his shift."

Tony Carter is the Vice President of the non profit Forest Grove Firefighter's Association, and also serves as a shop steward with the Tualatin Valley Professional Firefighters Union Local 1660. With the promotion of Tony to Captain a vacancy is left in the department at the Lieutenant level.  Fire Chief Michael Kinkade expects to have a process in place in the next couple weeks and to have an announcement in place by the end of September as to who will fill that role.  Due to the confidence that there were adequate in house candidates for these leadership positions, the department did not have to await the hiring of another firefighter so since hiring Jordan Ruiz on July 1st Forest Grove Fire & Rescue has been able to maintain full staffing of all positions in their current fiscal year budget. 

C Shift photo from Captain Lanter's retirement party in July