March 2, 2012

3:08 PM

On Saturday, March 3rd, Thursday, March 8th, and Saturday, March 10th, 2012, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will be conducting a training house burn at 236 NE 102^nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The Burn to Learn training will provide valuable live-fire training in an actual residential structure for newly hired Firefighter Recruits and career firefighters already serving on the line.

The Burn to Learn will begin each day around 9:00 a.m. when PF&R training officers will set small fires in the house. The training officers will accompany firefighter recruits inside to extinguish the fires. The process will be supervised by experienced, career firefighters and will follow strict safety guidelines. Once the training drills for the Firefighter Recruits are completed, the house will be allowed to burn in a controlled and safe manner.

Portland firefighters from Truck 2 (Parkrose) will also be at the burn, practicing roof ventilation tactics.

This training will provide Firefighter Recruits with an opportunity to practice advanced firefighting techniques in a live fire setting.

Portland Fire & Rescue conducts these types of training burns several times a year. Training Staff Fire Lieutenant Jim Sestric notes, "Burn to Learn training exercises are especially valuable for PF&R's newest firefighters by allowing them to observe fire behavior and smoke conditions in a burning structure." Lieutenant Sestric added, "Firefighters are able to learn the limits of their equipment and practice tactics in a controlled environment."

For questions or to learn more about Portland Fire's Burn to Learn training, contact Training Staff Fire Lieutenant Jim Sestric at (503) 823-3848.  

Visit PF&R's website at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire.

  Portland Fire & Rescue

March 2, 2012

4:21 PM

Video file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-03/549/52185/00009.wmv

Video file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-03/549/52185/00008.wmv

At 3:15 pm, firefighters from Station 3 (Northwest/Pearl District) were dispatched to an apartment fire at the Rex Manor Apartments located at 904 NW 21^st Avenue.

First-arriving crews were met by a tenant from the apartment building who had heard fire alarms sounding and evacuated her second-story unit. The tenant relayed to firefighters that there was heavy smoke coming from one of the apartments on the second floor.

Firefighters immediately began knocking on doors and securing a water supply to contain the fire and keep it from spreading.  

The fire was located in apartment number 203.  Firefighters forced the door to enter the apartment and were met by moderate heat and smoke.

Firefighters worked for nearly a half hour to contain the fire and extinguish hot spots. The only apartment that was affected with minor water damage was the apartment below.  

Fire investigators were called to examine the scene and determine the cause of the fire and damage estimates.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens that fire drills are important for all homes, including apartment buildings and other high-rise structures. Battalion Chief Don Russ notes, “You need to know the basics of escape planning, from identifying two ways out of every room to getting low and going under smoke, and the importance of practicing how you would respond in an emergency.”

  Portland Fire & Rescue