December 2, 2011

12:13 PM

At 10:25 am on December 2, 2011, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a medical call for a man who was reported to be unconscious at a house located at 4734 S.E. 48th. When firefighters from Portland's Woodstock Fire Station 25 arrived on scene, they were met by two workers feeling ill and complaining of being dizzy. The workers said they were in the house with a gasoline operated concrete cutting saw that was being used in a remodeling project in an interior bathroom.

Firefighters observed the scene and noticed that only a small window was open. They began to test the patients for carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters found high levels of carbon monoxide present in the house. Portland paramedic firefighters started high flows of oxygen to the patients and helped transport them to Providence Portland Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, charcoal, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, kerosene and methane) burn incompletely. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce carbon monoxide. Fumes are dangerous for anyone and can be deadly. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide including unborn babies, infants, older adults, people who smoke, and people who have chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems.

Portland Fire & Rescue encourages citizens to install at least one CO alarm with an audible warning signal outside each individual bedroom. The only way to know if you are being exposed to carbon monoxide is by using a detector. Visit

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/CommEd_CO_Program.shtml for additional information on carbon monoxide.

   Portland Fire & Rescue 

December 3, 2011

7:26 PM

Marine units from three Portland Fire Stations responded this afternoon to rescue a man from the Willamette River. A standard multiple unit response from different locations: Station 21 (Lower East side), Station 1 (Old Town), and Station 6 (NW Industrial), ensures that patients are located and rescued in the least amount of time.

Rescue Boat 21, the Eldon Trinity, reached the patient less than 4 minutes after being dispatched. Time represents the difference between life and death in water rescues; frigid temperatures increase the risk of hypothermia, the air temperature at the time of the rescue was 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Two minutes later, rescue swimmers from Old Town Station 1, aboard personal watercraft modified for surface water rescue, arrived to provide additional support.

Firefighter Dean Krake explains, "The man was standing aboard a large float along the west side sea wall between the Portland Spirit and the Hawthorne Bridge-he admitted to jumping into the river but did not explain why." The Eldon Trinity maneuvered alongside the float and the man stepped directly aboard. Cross trained as Emergency Medical Technicians, firefighters aboard the Eldon Trinity initiated medical treatment for cold exposure without delay. The patient's wet clothing was removed and he was wrapped in dry blankets.

The Eldon Trinity transported the man to a dock beneath the Hawthorne Bridge and care was transferred to a Paramedic Unit for transport to Providence Hospital; the patient's condition was not life threatening.

It is still unclear why the man jumped, and no patient name is available at this time.

Portland Fire & Rescue

Incident Statistics:

(November 27 - December 3, 2011)

Total Incidents: 1,196

Medical: 970

Fire: 34

Other: 192

Major Incidents: 4

• 11/27/11@ 0952 hrs, Commercial Fire, 2^nd Alarm, 4000 block of N Mississippi Ave. Loss: $100,000.  Cause: Electrical Short.
• 12/03/11@ 1446 hrs, TA1MAX, SW 18^th Ave &SW Morrison St.  Low speed non injury accident; where crews assisted driver out of vehicle after MAX power secured.
• 12/03/11@ 1644 hrs, Water Rescue,WillametteRiversouth ofMorrisonBridge.  Male assisted from large float at Seawall, taken to Sta21 dock, transported to local hospital.
• 12/03/11 @ 2339 hrs, Residential Fire, 1700 block of NE 142^nd Ave.  Loss: $25,000 Cause: Under Investigation

Year to Date Incident Statistics:

(January 2, 2011 - current)

Total Incidents: 64,204

Medical: 51,506

Fire: 2,798

Other: 11,890

Major Incidents: 166 

  Portland Fire & Rescue