Multnomah Fire Defense Board Chief Scott Lewis has issued an outdoor burn ban effective immediately on July 24, 2020 in all areas of Multnomah County.

This burn ban remains in effect until there is another post stating that is has been lifted.

A burn ban is issued due to forecasted high temperatures, limited rainfall, and on-going dry conditions.  

The burn ban includes recreational campfires, fire pits, yard debris, agricultural burning and permits issued for open burning until further notice.

Outdoor barbecuing is still allowed; however, residents should exercise extreme caution. When using charcoal briquettes please properly dispose of ashes in a covered metal container away from combustibles, and keep the ashes wet for a few days before properly disposing of them. Maintain at least ten feet between outdoor cooking and anything combustible such as siding, fences, shrubbery, etc.

Smokers are reminded to ensure their cigarettes are truly out and placed in proper receptacles.

Those living in wildland interface areas are asked to maintain their defensible space by monitoring growth surrounding homes and structures, and to maintain adequate access for firefighting equipment.

Portland Fire & Rescue created a video that explains the burn ban and you can see the video here: https://vimeo.com/438725963/d69083b7ff

Unfortunately, the 2020 Portland Metro Fire Camp for Young Women had to be canceled due to health concerns in the wake of the COVID-19 virus.

Women firefighters across the region have come together at Portland Fire & Rescue's training grounds for over 10 years (and more recently at Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue facilities as well) to give hands-on instruction that shows campers what a career in the fire service is all about. These instructors are disappointed not to be able to lead campers in person, but they have gathered together to create a virtual camp for prospective firefighters to use to learn about firefighting drills, ancillary career choices, station life, exercise routines, and more.

Please use and share with any future firefighters in your life.

Last night, the City of Portland saw unrest unlike any I have experienced in my lifetime in this city. Portland Fire & Rescue was put to the test in a night full of emergency calls. I want to personally thank every member of Portland Fire & Rescue, including the Rapid Response Team, for their dedication, compassion, professionalism, and courage on every call. I am humbled by your continuous commitment to all communities that make up Portland and I feel these words fall short of how proud I am of the firefighters who braved the frontlines last night. 

When I became Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, I made a promise to your loved ones that I would do everything within my power to ensure your safe return to the station and then back to the place you call home. But, I cannot fulfill that promise alone. Your dedication, your training, and your ability to make critical decisions brought you home safely to your loved ones by this morning. 

Last night, this city’s public safety teams worked together to back each other up and support the security of our community.From the 9-1-1 dispatchers at the Bureau of Emergency Communication who managed high-call volumes with technical expertise to the Portland Police Bureau teams that ensured our safety as we fought fires and attended to medical emergencies, I offer my heartfelt gratitude.

When I was sworn in less than a year ago, I could have never predicted what lay before us all in 2020. Although I couldn’t see what challenges we had before us, I had unwavering faith in the skill and commitment of the public safety professionals I have worked with side-by-side for my entire career.

I saw the best of our public safety professionals last night and I could not be prouder to put on my uniform again today. Thank you all for your exceptional service to the community.

Chief Sara Boone 

Regional health officials and first responders launched a simple “symptom checker” tool people can pull up on their laptop or smartphone for advice on COVID-19. The c19oregon.com (link is external) application, customized for use in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, helps people determine if their illness is serious enough to require immediate emergency care.

“This puts a valuable tool in the hand of anyone with a phone... to make informed decisions about their health,’’ said Multnomah County Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines.

The tool offers an online checklist to help people decide if their symptoms and underlying health conditions are serious enough that they should go to the hospital, visit their provider at a clinic, or can recover at home.

The application is available in 15 languages.

Developers from Vital Software in Atlanta worked with Emory University School of Medicine (link is external)and the Emory Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (link is external) to create the free c19check.com (link is external) site last month. 

Long-time collaborators Lt. Rich Chatman of Portland Fire & Rescue and Multnomah County Emergency Medical Services director Dr. Jon Jui learned of the tool and advocated for support and funding for local developers to hone a custom version for the tri-county area.

By providing their zip code, users can see the nearest hospitals with space available. It also alerts people to the steps they can take depending on their risk level, from calling a physician, to an advice nurse to 211 for other support. 

“If people need medical help and their local hospital is experiencing a surge, the tool will send them to another facility where they can get treated quickly,’’ said Lt. Chatman. “The goal is to have C19oregon direct the right resources to the right place at the right time to help the people in greatest need.”

Dr. Ritu Sahni, EMS Medical Director for Clackamas and Washington Counties, said, "Additionally, the tool may give us insight into which portions of our community may see a rise in infections before it becomes visible to the health care system." 

“It’s a resource that can match patients’ complaints and decreases stress on the entire system,’’ said Dr. Jui.

Dr. Jennifer Vines said that the statewide effort to stay home and use social distancing has made her cautiously optimistic that our collective action is making a difference in slowing the spread.

“We need people to keep doing what they’re doing because it’s protecting one another, and keeping our healthcare system in a good place.’’

Dr. Vines also reminded people that if they do not have a provider, or lack insurance, there are community health centers that are taking new patients and can help people stay healthy. A list of those centers is being added to the tool to further support health.