Incident Statistics: 

Total Incidents: 1,220

Medical: 990

Fire: 43

Other: 187

Major Incidents: 7

• 01/29/12@ 1157 hrs, Residential Fire, 3900 block of NE 79^th Ave. Loss: $25,200 Cause: Spilled gasoline ignited.
• 01/29/12@ 2007 hrs, Residential Fire, 6700 block of SE 77^th Ave. Loss: $70,000 Cause: Under investigation
• 01/29/12@ 2354 hrs, Water Rescue, assist Portland Police in searched for person of interest inColumbia River. Person located and transported to area hospital.
• 01/30/12@ 1132 hrs, Residential Fire, 3200 block of NE 51^st Ave. Loss: $40,000 Cause: Under investigation
• 02/01/12@ 1308 hrs, Commercial Fire, 700 block of SW Ankeny St. Loss: $12,500 Cause: Cooking fire, overheated oil
• 02/02/12@ 1203 hrs, Residential Fire, 14200 block of NW Riverview Dr. Loss: $60,000  
• Cause: Electrical short from distribution lines to the structure
• 02/04/12@ 1937 hrs, Apartment Fire 2^nd Alarm, 2000 block of SE 122^nd Loss: $100,000 Cause: Discarded cigarette

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

Each year, thousands of Oregonians suffer from burn injuries including scalds, flame, heat, sunburn, frostbite, chemical or electrical burns. About 80% of burn injuries do occur in or around the home and the majority of these injuries are preventable.

During Burn Awareness Week, Portland Fire & Rescue is partnering with the Oregon Burn Center to provide safety tips and information to help citizens learn how to avoid burn injuries.

What are Burns?

A burn is damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity. All burns damage or destroy skin cells. Deeper burns may involve the fat, muscle, or bone.

Who Are More Susceptible?

Due to their thinner skin, children and older adults can sustain severe burns at lower temperatures and in less time than younger adults. Children, seniors, and the disabled are less likely to survive burn injuries and usually spend more in hospital due to recovery challenges. Adults between the ages of 35 and 44 are the most frequently hospitalized for burn-related injuries.  Adult males are three times more likely than females to experience burn-related hospitalizations. Children under the age of six years old are frequently seen in emergency rooms with burn injuries.

Hot Tap Water & Scald Burns

Over 500,000 scald burns occur annually in the United States. Hot tap water is a major cause of burn injury. As with other scald burns, young children and older adults are most at risk.

The following measures will help you prevent or control tap water scalds:

• Before placing a child into the bath or getting into the tub yourself, TEST THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER by moving your hand rapidly through the water for several seconds. The temperature should not exceed 90º F. A child's delicate skin will burn more quickly than an adult's. Consider purchasing a Bath Buddy Thermometer for the bath tub.  It’s a rubber duck with a Thermometer build right in it. 
• Never leave a young child unattended in the bathroom or tub.
• Use extreme caution if bathing small children in the sink. Many sinks have single-lever faucets which are easy for young children to turn on.
• Adjust the thermostat setting on your water heater to produce a water temperature of 120º to 125º or less. The lower the temperature, the lower the risk.
• Consider installing "anti-scald" devices on tub faucets and shower heads to prevent accidental scalds.
• Consider purchasing a soft spout cover that will guard the entire tub faucet, protecting children from bumps in the tub.

Citizens can find Buddy Thermometers and soft spout covers at Emanuel Hospital’s Safety Store located at 2801 N. Gantenbein as well as at Portland Fire & Rescue’s Historic Belmont Firehouse Learning Center at SE 35th and Belmont. 

Remember, continuous and adequate supervision of young children is the single most important factor in preventing tab water scald burns.

Questions? Contact Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Inspector Scott Goetchius at 503-823-3615.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

The City of Portland is currently home to three buildings over 500 feet. They include the 546 foot Wells Fargo Center, the 536 foot US Bancorp Tower, and the 509 foot KOIN Center.

The US Bancorp Tower has 42 floors and close to 740,000 square feet of office space. The tower opened in 1983, and has been affectionately nicknamed “Big Pink” due to its unusual pinkish color. If there is an emergency incident in or around the tower, Portland firefighters from Station 1 (Downtown Central) are the first to respond because of their close proximity.

In mid-January, Station 1 firefighters were offered the opportunity to conduct highrise fire training on the unoccupied 29th floor of the US Bancorp Tower.

Fires in highrise buildings such as the Tower generally require more complicated operational approaches than most structure fires and it’s important to practice strategies and tactics firefighters will employ to perform safely and effectively during a highrise fire.

The training was held over three days and took significant preparation, not only by the firefighters, but by Unico Properties LLC. Unico Properties LLC is a real estate investment and operating company.

During the drill, firefighters focused on fire attack, staging, lobby control, highrise tactics and scenarios, and elevator use in highrise fires.  Training opportunities such as this help your firefighters to reinforce response to unique and complex emergencies in highrise buildings.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

February 7, 2012

12:37 PM

Shortly before 9:00 am, Portland firefighters were dispatched to reports of heavy black smoke coming from a house located at 2226 SE 55th Avenue. Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 25 (Woodstock) arrived first on scene in just three minutes with the ladder truck, followed by four fire engines.

Firefighters encountered fire in the first floor kitchen that had spread to the second floor and into the home’s attic. A second ladder truck was requested at the scene by the Incident Commander, which came from Portland Fire Station 7 (Mill Park).

This home had solar panels, which covered nearly one full side of the roof. Portland firefighters know to be aware of the potential for electrocution when they respond to fires at structures that have solar energy systems in place to ensure that they can safely operate around them with ladders, saws, and other firefighting equipment.

In this case, firefighters opened up the opposite side of the roof to vent the heat, smoke, and flames, allowing engine crews to battle the fire from inside the structure.

The fire was brought under control at 9:25 am. Firefighters determined that nobody was home at the time of the fire, and a dog which had been reported missing was safe with a relative.

Investigators have determined that the fire originated in the kitchen of this residence. A disruption to power service in the neighborhood was reported early this morning. While preparing breakfast, the occupant reported turning on a toaster oven, by means of a dial, before realizing there was no power. The occupant had already left for the day by the time power was restored to the neighborhood.

Investigators believe the restored power allowed the toaster oven to turn on as the dial remained in an "on" position and that the toaster oven was involved in the cause of this fire. At this time, they are unable to determine what actually ignited first. Damage to the home is estimated at $70,000.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens that if the power goes out, be mindful that appliances may resume normal operation when power is restored. Citizens are also urged to maintain a safe distance between appliances and combustible items per manufacturer recommendations.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

February 8, 2012

4:01 PM

Commissioner Randy Leonard announced the selection of Erin Janssens as Portland’s next Fire Chief.  Janssens is a 24-year veteran of Portland Fire & Rescue and currently serves as the City of Portland’s Fire Marshal and Division Chief of Prevention.  She will replace Fire Chief John Klum, who announced last month that he will retire in June. 

"Erin’s rich experience, her outstanding political acumen, and the strength of her leadership and operational skills make her the right person to lead Portland Fire & Rescue," said Commissioner Randy Leonard, "Her career has been characterized by exceptional focus and consistent success, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to select Erin Janssens as Portland’s next Fire Chief." 

Janssens brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having worked at every level of Portland Fire.  A Portland-area native, Erin joined Portland Fire & Rescue as a firefighter in 1988 and was promoted through the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief of Special Operations, and most recently Portland’s Fire Marshal.    

Over the course of her career, Janssens has worked collaboratively with multiple agencies to improve PF&R’s emergency response efforts relative to lightrail, streetcar, and bicycle/pedestrian projects, green streets, and emergency response routes. She oversaw the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) grant securing millions of dollars for regional firefighting equipment and chaired a regional group of fire chiefs to develop response strategies for human-caused and natural disasters. Erin also played an instrumental role in the transition of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) from Portland Fire & Rescue under the Office of Mayor Katz.

"Portland Fire & Rescue has an incredibly talented and highly trained group of people that I’m extremely proud of.  Our job is two-fold; to create a safe environment for Portland’s citizens and protect life and property by helping people in their greatest time of need," said Janssens.  "As Fire Chief, I face both challenges and opportunities.  I look forward to leading Portland Fire & Rescue to a successful future."

Janssens will begin working immediately with outgoing Fire Chief John Klum to transition to her new post.  Chief Janssens is expected to begin her tenure leading the 757-member bureau as Fire Chief in mid-June when Chief Klum retires.

About Portland Fire & Rescue

As the largest fire agency and emergency medical service provider in the State of Oregon, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has 757 employees and serves a population base of 582,000 people.  In 2010, PF&R responded to 68,000 emergency incidents, consistently demonstrating its commitment to be Always Ready, Always There for the citizens of Portland.

  Portland Fire & Rescue