April 25, 2012

3:23 PM

At 1:06 pm, Portland Fire & Rescue received reports of a man in his mid-20's who had fallen from the Steele Bridge into the Willamette River. At the time of the fall, the man was on the Steele Bridge engaging in a sport known as Parkour, which is a physical discipline that focuses on efficient movement around obstacles. He was going from one obstacle to another when he apparently missed the bridge, went over the railing, and fell into the water.

A fisherman that happened to be passing by at that time saw him and picked him up out of the water. He then called 9-1-1 and firefighters from Portland Fire Station 1 (Old Town) met the fisherman at the dock next to the Sternwheeler Portland (located at Portland's Waterfront Park). Station 1 firefighters transported the man to a waiting ambulance. His condition is unknown at this time.

"Despite the obvious safety risks involved, extreme sports continue to grow in popularity with young adults," noted Portland Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Paul Corah. "When engaging in any extreme athletic activity, it is important that it's done with proper supervision, safety equipment, and within an appropriate area."

Parkour teaches participants how to move through their environment by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing, and jumping. There is no list of "moves"; each obstacle is approached individually. In many cases effective Parkour techniques depend on fast redistribution of body weight and the use of momentum to perform seemingly difficult or impossible body maneuvers at great speed. Absorption and redistribution of energy is also an important factor, such as body rolls when landing which reduce impact forces on the legs and spine, allowing an individual to jump from greater heights than those often considered sensible in other forms of acrobatics and gymnastics.

April 26, 2012

7:27 PM

At 3:44 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) firefighters responded to a residential fire at 15024 NE Clackamas Street.

While en-route, 9-1-1 dispatchers alerted fire crews that it was unknown whether or not anyone was inside the home. Dispatchers also reported that callers where relaying that dark, heavy smoke was coming from the front door, windows, and eaves.

PF&R Rescue 30 (Gateway) arrived and relayed information to additional engine and truck crews on their way to the scene, noting significant smoke from the eves and chimney of the home.

Firefighters from Truck 2 (Parkrose) then forced entry into the home and began a preliminary search for victims. Crews were also sent to the roof to perform vertical ventilation to allow heat and smoke to be vented from the structure. During this time, Portland Police officers where called in to remove multiple weapons from the residence.

Firefighters successfully attacked and extinguished a large body of fire on the main floor and then deployed a hand-held Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) to see areas of heat through the smoke and darkness in the basement.

During the primary search of the residence, firefighters located a fire victim in the basement. AMR Ambulance paramedics treated and transported the victim to a local area hospital.

The fire was recalled at 4:40 pm.

Portland Fire investigators were called to the scene. There are no damage estimates or a fire cause at this time.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement Crime Prevention Program and the Portland Police Bureau will hold a Prescription Drug Turn In event on Saturday April 28th, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at three locations in the City of Portland.

Event: Prescription Drug Turn In. This is a free event.
When: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Where: Fred Meyer – Gateway, 1111 NE 102nd Avenue
Contact: Katherine Anderson Crime Prevention Coordinator 503-823-3432

Look for the Portland Police Bureau mobile precinct in the parking lot next to NE 102nd Avenue. If you can't make the East Portland location, the other events held in Portland on Saturday, April 28th from 10am to 2pm:

1.  Fred Meyer-North Interstate 7404 N Interstate Avenue 

2.  Mirabella Retirement Community, 3550 Southwest Bond Avenue

Portland Police Officers and Crime Prevention staff will be on site for the anonymous turn in of unused or expired prescription medications, to share information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and to answer community and media questions regarding this issue. All medications will be incinerated. Please consolidate all pills by putting them into a sealed sandwich baggy if you have a large amount to dispose of. Make sure that liquids are in a tightly sealed, leak proof container. NO SHARPS!

Acceptable items for disposal: Prescription medications and samples, all over the counter medications, vitamins, pet medications, medicated ointments, and liquid medication in leak proof containers.

Items not accepted: Thermometers/Sharps/Syringes, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, inhalers, EpiPens.