Visit www.flu.gov for more information.

Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington counties in conjunction with the State of Oregon and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) have established the region’s first Flue Joint Information Center (JIC).  The Flu JIC, located in Southeast Portland, is being staffed full-time by Public Information Officers (PIO) throughout the region to provide accurate, timely, and consistent information about H1N1 and the Seasonal Flu to the community.

Flu JIC staff are in daily contact with PIOs in each county and from the state, giving the information center a full picture of what is happening across the region.

Visit the NW Regional Flu Website at http://www.nwflunews.info/ for more information on the following topics:

• Daily updates
• Public guidance
• Vaccination locations
• Facts
• Trending topics
• Media releases 
• Educational materials 
• Contact information

November 2, 2009

The City of Brookings, Oregon will be receiving a $350,000 Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in 2010, courtesy of the Office of Homeland Security.  If a major emergency such as a fire, flood, earthquake, or tsunami occurs, the EOC will provide a centralized command and control facility for the Police Chief, Fire Chief, representatives of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, the U.S. Coast Guard, and representatives of any other agencies involved in the emergency operations.  The EOC will also house emergency communications equipment, tables, wall screens, and charts to monitor emergency operations. Click here for more information.

Congratulations to the City of Brookings!

November 2, 2009

Portland Fire & Rescue investigators have determined the cause of the house fire this morning. Combustibles too close to a baseboard heater sparked the fire that displaced two people. The fire severely damaged the home and caused an estimated $80,000 in damage.

There have been numerous fires caused by heating devices in the metro area since the weather has turned colder. Any device that creates heat needs a space of about three feet around it clear of anything that will burn.

The home did not have a working smoke alarm and the two young men who escaped the fire this morning were very fortunate to have survived.

Keep yourself and your family safe by reading the warnings and recommendations that come with all portable heating devices.  And remember:

• Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, one outside the bedrooms, and one on every level of your home. Test your smoke alarms every month.
• Space heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater.
• When buying a space heater, look for a control feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over.

At 4:50 am this morning, Portland Fire & Rescue firefighters responded to the report of a house on fire on SE 76th Avenue. Prior to the arrival of firefighters, a Portland Police sergeant on patrol in the area reported that the house was "fully engulfed in flame."

For more information, visit http://www.newsbridge.net/Portland_Fire_and_Rescue/.

Photos by Dick Harris, Portland Fire & Rescue

November 3, 2009

Portland Fire & Rescue was highly visible and had some very positive interactions with community members during this year’s National Night Out celebration on August 4, 2009.

Firefighters from Station 2

Photo courtesy of East PDX News

http://eastpdxnews.com  

National Night Out is a unique community event celebrated the first Tuesday of August each year that focuses on prevention of crime and drug activity. National Night Out is designed to:

• Heighten community awareness of crime and drug prevention
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back
• Promote emergency preparedness awareness

On-duty Portland Fire & Rescue firefighters attended 78 neighborhood events, dedicated over 225 staff hours to the National Night Out activities, and made contact with several thousand citizens. The firefighters participated in a wide variety of activities including potlucks, block parties, cookouts, and BBQ’s.  Firefighters also:

• Displayed a new Pierce fire engine
• Demonstrated the use of our turnout uniforms and other safety equipment
• Discussed possible employment opportunities with citizens
• Assisted animal control with an animal rescue at an event
• Filled a 500 gallon dunk tank
• Performed a water display with various nozzles
• Discussed station remodels and temporary relocations
• Talked about seasonal fire and safety hazards
• Explained special responses including responses to hazardous materials situations
• Handed out badges, plastic helmets, and fire education materials 

For more information, tips for organizing a block party, or how you can celebrate National Night Out in August 2010, click here to be redirected to the City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Development’s website.

November 5, 2009

Each week, the Fire Blog will offer a trivia question and answer to boost your fire IQ:

Q:  What three elements must be present at the same time to have a fire?

Think you know the answer?  Post a comment and look for the answer on Monday!

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID YOUNGER!

Your answer was on fire!

A:  In order to have a fire, there must be three elements:

• Fuel—something which will burn
• Heat—enough to make the fuel burn
• Air—more specifically, oxygen

Usually these three elements are expressed as a triangle, called The Fire Triangle.  All three elements must be present at the same time to have a fire. Fire will burn until one or more of the elements is removed.