Join Portland Fire & Rescue

Applications will be available for the positions of Firefighter EMT and Firefighter Trainee beginning January 11–25, 2010. Applications will be available online at www.ci.portland.or.us/jobs or at the below locations. Applications must be submitted to the City of Portland Bureau of Human Resources at 1120 SW 5^th Avenue, Room #404 by 4:30 pm on Monday, January 25, 2010.

Portland Fire & Rescue
Training & Safety Division

4800 NE 122^nd Avenue

Portland, OR 97230

8:00 am – 4:30 pm   

Portland Fire & Rescue

Administrative Office
55 SW Ash Street
Portland, OR 97204
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Portland Bureau of Human Resources

Application Center
Portland Building
1120 SW 5^th Avenue

Portland, OR 97204
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Learn more about Portland Fire & Rescue's recruiting efforts on our Facebook and Twitter accounts!

January 4, 2010

Marysville Elementary School Fire, November 2009

A three-alarm fire caused significant damage to Marysville Elementary School on November 10, 2009.  Fortunately, every student and teacher escaped the fire that heavily damaged the historic building.  In the following weeks and months, the Portland community came together to offer support and donate school supplies such as books and backpacks.  The students are now attending Rose City Park School in Northeast Portland but are still in need of assistance.

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Marysville Elementary School will be hosting a special benefit auction on Thursday, January 7, 2010.  Funds raised will help replace lost equipment and supplies and support worthy programs and projects.

The auction will begin at 6:00 pm at the Ambridge Event Center, 1333 N.E. Martin Luther King Boulevard. Tickets are $30, which includes dinner, drinks, and live entertainment.  Auctioned items such as music and restaurant gift certificates, jewelry, spa visits, and weekend getaways will be available for silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online at https://marysville.schoolauction.net/benefit/register. To make a tax deductible contribution, visit the Marysville School Auction Benefit website at http://marysville.schoolauction.net/benefit/.

January 5, 2010

Sledding Safety Tips

Now that the cold weather and snow are here, follow these tips to keep kids safe during the sledding season:

• Help children to understand that sledding can be dangerous. Convey to them that their fun could be cut short by bumps, bruises, or even broken bones.
• Encourage sledders to lie on their backs and go feet first down the slope. Alternatively, they can sit face forward on the sled. Either approach will greatly reduce the risk of head injuries.
• Check the terrain. Look for trees, rocks, bare patches, creeks, and other obstacles. Make sure the slope is gentle, clear from top to bottom, and doesn't end near a road or freeway.
• Keep children away from makeshift snow ramps which can be hazardous.
• Dress warmly! Younger children are more susceptible than adults to hypothermia, a potentially life-threatening situation where the body temperature falls well below normal. Be sure to check youngsters often, and bring them in right away if they get wet -- water and wind can reduce body temperature quickly. Older kids should dress in warm layers; this will protect kids from the elements and help cushion falls.
• Wear helmets when sledding! Helmets have become standard equipment for sports such as skateboarding and downhill skiing, and they won’t seem out of place on the sledding hill.
• Bring kids inside for regular water breaks. Sweating under heavy winter clothing and breathing hard from exertion can cause dehydration.
• Don't forget the sunscreen. Even though there may not be much skin peeking out from under those heavy coats and caps, sunlight reflecting off the snow can burn it in a hurry.
• Most importantly, watch kids and ensure they’re following the rules.

It’s not just about saving lives; it’s about saving your life.

January 5, 2010 

January 6, 2010