Quick Background  

Members of the Campbell Board of Trustees, Portland Fire & Rescue, and Portland State University’s Department of Architecture announced Monday, October 26, 2009 the three finalists for the design of the memorial dedicated to David Campbell, Fire Chief 1893-1911, and other courageous Portland firefighters who died in the line of duty.  The three finalists include:

• Aaron Whelton, WHELTONarchitecture
• Matt Loosemore, Sum Design Studio
• William Tripp, Tripparch 

The proposed site for the new David Campbell Memorial is at the East end of the Hawthorne Bridge, overlooking downtown Portland and feet away from where Portland Fire Chief David Campbell died while fighting the Union Oil fire on June 26, 1911. He had gone into the burning building shortly before an explosion occurred which took his life.  The construction of the new memorial is to be funded through private donations and sponsorships. 

What's Happening Now?

On Monday, November 30, 2009, Commissioners Nick Fish and Randy Leonard, along with firefighter Paul Corah, met with two of the three finalists for the Campbell Memorial Design Competition.  The architects were on hand to present their designs to the Selection Committee members, answer questions and receive feedback about the strengths and concerns with the designs received from both the public feedback process and Selection Committee's review.

The meeting with the final contestant will take place the week of December 7th, and then the three finalists will have approximately one month to revise their designs based on the feedback received, or leave them as they are.  Final design selection is expected to take place at the end of January 2010. 

For more information and to follow the design selection, fundraising, and construction process for the firefighters' memorial, visit www.portlandfirefightersmemorial.org.

December 1, 2009

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will team up with the Boy Scouts of America and local volunteer agencies, including St. Vincent de Paul, to collect food for those in need. Last holiday season, these volunteer agencies provided food to over 10,000 families in the Portland Metropolitan area and this year the need is greater than ever. The drive is recognized as the last major food drive of the year for northwest Oregon and southwest Washington area emergency food agencies.

This Saturday local Scouts will go door-to-door to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food for those in need from local residents. The donations will then be taken by the Scouts to drop-sites at PF&R fire stations 2, 7, 14, 15, 25, and 29.  Items collected will be distributed to local food agencies. Items most needed are non-perishable canned and packaged foods such as meat, soups, stews, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, beans, lentils, peanut butter, tuna, and baby food.  

In addition to the above stations serving as food drop-off sites for Scouts, all 30 PF&R fire stations (click here to view station locations) will serve as collection/drop-off sites for individuals on Saturday, December 5th. This is intended to assist those people who do not have Scouts in their neighborhood, but wish to contribute towards those needing assistance with food. 

Portland Fire & Rescue Reminds You To Drive Safe and Slow,

As Scouts Are on the Go

With thousands of Scouting for Food participants canvassing neighborhoods on Saturday, December 5, 2009, both Scouts and drivers alike are reminded to exercise caution. Motorists should be careful when backing out of driveways and reduce speeds by 5 to 10 miles per hour while traveling in subdivisions.

December 1, 2009

Last week, sampling detected a small amount of contamination in the Washington Park Reservoir 3 that serves west side customers of the Portland Water Bureau, and the Palatine Hills, Valley View, and Burlington water districts. The Portland Water Bureau issued a mandatory “Boil Water Notice” for customers on the west side of the Willamette River, advising customers to boil their water for one minute before drinking, food preparation, and other uses which would involve swallowing water.  The “Boil Water Notice” was lifted this weekend.

Even though the “Boil Water Notice” affected a small area, it’s important to ask yourself, “Is my family prepared for an incident like this?”

Portland Fire & Rescue strongly encourages you to be proactive and assemble a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit to meet the basic survival needs of your family.  This includes a THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF DRINKABLE AND CLEAN WATER. Click here for a list of suggested items to include in a 72-hour emergency supply kit for your home.

November 30, 2009

Keeping Your Water Pipes from Freezing

An average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter, all because of water pipes that freeze and burst. By taking a few simple precautions, you can save yourself the problems that frozen pipes cause:

Before the Cold

• Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember - the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
• Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions.
• Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
• Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

When Temperatures Drop

• A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let the water (hot & cold) drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

Before you go away

• Set the thermostat in your house no lower than 55°F (12°C).
• Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing or
• Shutting off and draining the water system may be an option. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be deactivated when you shut off the water.
• Don't take chances. If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.
• Portland Fire & Rescue reminds you to NEVER attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.

If Your Pipes Freeze

• Don't take chances. If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.
• Portland Fire & Rescue reminds you to NEVER attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.

It’s not about saving lives;

it’s about saving your life.

November 30, 2009

Photo courtesy of Brent Wojahn, The Oregonian

Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews were dispatched at 9:18 pm on November 26, 2009 to a reported residential fire on SW Capitol Hill Road in Portland, Oregon. 

The first-in engine company arrived on scene at 9:22 pm and found a two-story single family residence with heavy fire involvement located at the rear of the structure.  Crews made a quick entry into the structure and advanced hose lines in an attempt to knock the fire down, but shortly thereafter ordered out of the structure because of heavy fire conditions.  Crews quickly retreated and shortly thereafter the roof of the structure began to fail and collapse.  At that point crews were forced to conduct an aggressive defensive attack, but had much difficulty due to the amount of fire from the structure.  Numerous hose lines were required to gain control of the fire, including two master streams- one elevated and one ground level.  There was approximately 2,100 gallons of water a minute being applied to the fire for over two hours.  The structure was overloaded with combustible materials from years of collection.  Some rooms were inaccessible by crews while others were only accessible via pathways. 

Fortunately, the two elderly occupants were not home at the time of the fire; it would have been impossible for crews to conduct a rescue had the home been occupied. 

There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.  Crews have not been able to work inside of the structure to extinguish all remaining hot spots because of structural instabilities, but will continue to monitor the residence for the next couple of days.  PF&R apparatus and personnel response included six fire engines, two fire trucks, one rehab unit, three fire investigators, three fire chiefs, and 40 firefighters.

The structure was approximately 1870 square feet with a complete loss of the structure and contents.  Damage is estimated to be $300,000 to the structure and $150,000 to the contents. 

PF&R fire investigators have not yet determined a cause of fire

at this time but would appreciate anyone with any

helpful information to contact them at (503) 823-3791.  

November 27, 2009