Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) accepted a $7,000 dollar grant from Wells Fargo Insurance Services in conjunction with Firemans Fund Insurance. This is the latest in a long line of grants from Firemans Fund, and has been used to purchase a Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) system for one of PF&R's Rescue Boats. This FLIR system will greatly enhance the capabilities of the rescue boats and allow firefighters to "see in the dark" allowing for quicker rescues at night or in stormy weather on Portland's waterways.

This afternoon, the media was invited to join PF&R Fire Chief John Klum and representatives from Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Firemans Fund Insurance for a live demonstration of the FLIR system at PF&R Fire Station 21.  A ride-along on PF&R's Rescue Boat wrapped up this event. 

With this $7,000 grant, PF&R will have received a total of $99,635 in grants from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and their Heritage Program since November 2006. The program has awarded more than $25 million in grants to over 1,500 fire departments/fire service organizations through the Heritage Program and more than $330,000 in grants have been awarded in the state of Oregon.

Thank you Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Firemans Fund Insurance!

April 7, 2010

Three Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

Courtesy of Retired PF&R Firefighter Mark Walkley, Station 7 

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 5 oz. crumbled Blue cheese
• 6 oz. shredded Parmesan cheese (1 ½ cups)
• 5 lbs. potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 2 teaspoons salt (divided)
• 1 teaspoon pepper (divided)
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 cube butter, melted
• 3 cups milk

Preparation:

1. Combine cheeses.
2. Layer ½ of the potatoes in a 11 by 14 inch baking pan.
3. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
4. Spread onion.
5. Spread flour
6. Spread butter.
7. Spread ½ cheese mixture.
8. Add remaining potatoes.
9. Add Remaining salt and pepper.
10. Reserve remaining cheese.
11. Bring milk to a simmer, then pour over the potatoes.
12. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes at 400.
13. Uncover and top with remaining cheese.
14. Bake uncovered another 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden.
15. Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes.

Serves at least 12 firefighters.

April 7, 2010

Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will accept a $7,000 dollar grant from Wells Fargo Insurance Services in conjunction with Firemans Fund Insurance. This is the latest in a long line of grants from Firemans Fund, and has been used to purchase a Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) system for one of PF&R's Rescue Boats.

This FLIR system will greatly enhance the capabilities of the rescue boats and allow firefighters to "see in the dark" allowing for quicker rescues at night or in stormy weather on Portland's waterways.

The media is invited to join PF&R Fire Chief John Klum and representatives from Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Firemans Fund Insurance for a live demonstration of FLIR system on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm at PF&R Fire Station 21 located at 05 SE Madison Portland, Oregon.  A ride-along on PF&R's Rescue Boat will wrap up this event. 

With this $7,000 grant, PF&R will have received a total of $99,635 in grants from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and their Heritage Program since November 2006. The program has awarded more than $25 million in grants to over 1,500 fire departments/fire service organizations through the Heritage Program and more than $330,000 in grants have been awarded in the state of Oregon.

About Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is the fourth largest insurance brokerage firm in the world, according to Business Insurance magazine and the largest bank-affiliated insurance brokerage firm in the United States. They provide insurance brokerage and administrative services, as well as a range of financial and consulting services to customers. For more information, visit http://www.wellsfargo.com/wfis.

About Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products nationwide.  It is rated ‘AA-' by Standard & Poor's Rating Services.  Fireman's Fund is a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world's largest providers of insurance and financial services.  For additional information, visit http://www.firemansfund.com.

Tips To Keep You Safe   

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds you to designate an assistant skipper when on a boat -- Make sure more than only one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips. If the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important to make sure someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone else back to shore.

April 7, 2010

What is the most innovative way to educate families about fire safety and prevention?  Try Portland, Oregon’s Historic Belmont Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum, created in 2004 by Fire Inspector/Specialist Don Porth of Portland Fire and Rescue.  With more than 27,000 visitors since launching, the Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum features an interactive fire engine ride, in which visitors buckle up in a real-life cab and look through the window as the vehicle responds to simulated emergencies.

On April 8, 2010, Liberty Mutual Insurance honored Don Porth for his part in creating the center and his 25-year dedication to protecting and educating local residents.  In front of an audience of friends, family, and firefighters, Porth received the 2009 National Firemark Award for Public Education and Community Service and a $10,000 grant.  Porth plans to use the grant to support the Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation, a major partner in Portland Fire and Rescue’s efforts to provide fire safety education. You can find more information about the Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation at http://www.jeffmorrisfoundation.org/.

Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award winners are chosen from a pool of nominees who received local awards from a Liberty Mutual office in their community throughout the year.  Porth was honored locally in 2009, and was selected from more than 150 local winners for the national award.

“Don Porth is a perfect example of how to put out fires before they start, by inspiring families to think about safety and prevention through thoughtful teachings and high-tech exhibits,” said Kylie Tacheny, sales representative for Liberty Mutual’s Lake Oswego office.  “We commend his approach and lifetime of service, and hope that our award and grant can help him reach even more Portland families in years to come.”

As part of the Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award, Porth will receive a trip to Liberty Mutual’s “Where’s the Fire?”^TM attraction at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.  Also created in 2004 – and built with an educational mission akin to the Safety Learning Center – the attraction is the largest of its kind in the United States; a 4,000 square-foot exhibit designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in cooperation with Liberty Mutual's fire safety specialists and the U.S. Fire Administration.

April 8, 2010

Portland Fire and Rescue's (PF&R) Public Education Officer, Don Porth, will be honored today, April 8, 2010, by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Porth is being recognized for his 25-year career of putting out fires before they start through educational programs for Portland families. Porth will receive the Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award for Public Education and Community Service and a $10,000 grant in recognition of his accomplishments. Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award winners are chosen from a pool of nominees who received local awards from a Liberty Mutual office in their community throughout the year. Porth, who has held the positions of firefighter, juvenile firesetter specialist, public education officer, and fire inspector, was honored locally in 2009, and was selected from more than 150 local winners for the national award.

Perhaps most noteworthy among Porth's accomplishments is his creation of the Historic Belmont Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum, a converted historic firehouse where residents can learn about fire safety and prevention. With more than 27,000 visitors since launching, Porth's Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum features an interactive fire engine ride, in which visitors buckle up in a real-life cab and look through the window as the vehicle responds to simulated emergencies. Porth also chairs the Metro Injury Prevention Coalition and manages SOS Fires, an educational website focused on juvenile fire setting intervention.

He plans to use the grant to support the Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation, a major partner in Portland Fire and Rescue's educational efforts.

Award Presentation Ceremony

When: Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 2 p.m. PST

Where: The Historic Belmont Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum, located at 900 SE 35th Avenue (at Belmont), in Portland

Who's Invited: Media and general public

About the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award

The Liberty Mutual Firemark Award is presented annually to U.S. firefighters who best represent their communities through courageous acts and who best demonstrate the firefighter's selfless spirit. The award takes its name from the firemark, a leaden plate in the form of a Phoenix rising from the ashes, which American fire offices in the 18th and 19th centuries used to mark all the houses they insured. The firemark stood as a guarantee to all fire brigades that the insurance company that insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a fire on the premises.

Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award winners are chosen from a pool of nominees who have received local awards from a Liberty Mutual office in their community throughout the year by a committee comprised of numerous fire safety organizations; including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Fire agencies and local residents can nominate a firefighter for a local Liberty Mutual Firemark Award at www.befiresmart.com, an educational website created by Liberty Mutual for parents, children, educators, and firefighters, featuring engaging videos, lesson plans for teachers, and interactive games on fire safety and prevention.

About Liberty Mutual

'Helping people live safer, more secure lives' since 1912, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and fifth-largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2008 direct written premium. Liberty Mutual Group ranks 86th on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2008 revenue. The company has over 45,000 employees located in more than 900 offices throughout the world. Liberty Mutual has more than 1,000 employees in 15 offices in Oregon, including locations in Portland and Lake Oswego.

The eighth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 12,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups.

April 8, 2010