February 1, 2012

1:32 PM

At 10:52 this morning, firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a commercial fire at the Banfield Motel located at 1525 NE 37th. On arrival, firefighters from Engine 28 (Rose City/Hollywood) found fire coming from room 26 on the lower level of the motel.

All occupants had exited from the unit. One resident did suffer smoke inhalation and Portland Fire medics treated the occupant at the scene and called for an ambulance.

Firefighters were able to fight through the fire and put most of the fire out within a minute. The fire did not spread to other units. Firefighters are letting occupants back into motel rooms at this time. A fire investigator has been called to the scene to help determine the cause of the fire and no estimates on damage are available at this time.

The fire was recalled at 11:25 am.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

February 1, 2012

2:02 PM

On February 1, 2012, the City of Portland announced that Oregon Iron Works, Inc., headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, had won a competitive contract to built two new fireboats for Portland Fire & Rescue. Funds for the $5 million dollar project will come from the $72 million General Obligation Bond passed by Portland voters in 2010. $20 million dollar of the bond is earmarked to replace aging fire apparatus.

"’Made in Oregon’- a phrase that is music to my ears. I'm excited that Portland's new fireboats will be built right here by Oregon Iron Works," said U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. "This is a needed investment for Portland Fire & Rescue and a great way to help create jobs in Oregon."

"Portland Fire has an aging fleet of fireboats that must be taken out of service on an increasing basis for repair and maintenance, impacting our marine response capabilities," notes Commissioner Randy Leonard, "These two new boats will insure dependable emergency response on Portland’s waterways for the next 40 years."

The aluminum boats will be built at the Clackamas, Oregon plant back to back with the latest navigational equipment, pumps, and controls. They will be powered by twin 1080 horse-powered engines that will drive two jet pumps, enabling the fireboats to achieve 40 knots, or just over 46 miles per hour.

Each boat will be 50 feet long and 15 feet across the beam. The boats will be capable of pumping over 7,000 gallons of water per minute to fight land and marine-based fires, as well as pump water to fire engines, if needed, during a catastrophic emergency. The boats will be ready to place in service in approximately one year.

"As a local small business manufacturer that employs hundreds of skilled Oregonians, we are delighted to build these reliable, safe, high-performance fireboats for the City of Portland," stated Robert Beal, Chief Executive Officer of Oregon Iron Works, Inc. "It’s good for our economy, it’s good for the safety and protection of our local citizens, and it supports real family-wage jobs with benefits."

About Oregon Iron Works

Oregon Iron Works, Inc. (OIW) is a specialty manufacturing firm with commercial, marine, nuclear, aerospace, hydroelectric, defense and transportation manufacturing divisions. Founded in 1944 in Portland, Oregon, the company has been under the same management since 1974. They have been building high performance aluminum, composite and steel hulled marine craft for the United States and other Governments and commercial operators since 1984, with over 300 boats delivered. The small business currently employs over 400 employees and is headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, with additional manufacturing facilities in Vancouver, Washington. For more information visit www.oregoniron.com.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

The City of Portland has a new Fire Lieutenant.

During a formal swearing-in ceremony at Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PF&R) Training & Safety Facility this morning, Paul Komanecky was appointed to the position of Fire Lieutenant. The ceremony was witnessed by Training, Safety & EMS Chief Glen Eisner, Operations Chief John Nohr, other Fire Bureau personnel, and family members.

Komanecky began his career with Portland Fire in 1996 and had worked at Stations 2, 3, and 9. Most recently, Komanecky managed PF&R’s Emergency Vehicle Operations Driving Program.

As a Fire Lieutenant, Komanecky will be responsible for supervising firefighters when working at a fire scene or other emergency. He will also organize and supervise the day-to-day tasks at a Portlandfire station, and provide training on safety procedures and fire equipment to firefighters. Click here to view the City of Portland Fire Lieutenant job description.

Congratulations to Lieutenant Komanecky! 

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

UPDATED WITH FIRE CAUSE & DAMAGE ESTIMATES

4:35 PM

Portland Fire has determined that the cause of this fire was electrical in nature. Roofers were working on the roof shortly before the fire broke out. Reports indicate they were discarding a piece of metal flashing, which accidentally connected with a high powered electrical line and shorted out the line causing the fire. Damage to the home is estimated at $75,000.

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February 2, 2012

3:04 PM

Video file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-02/549/51381/00022.wmv

Video file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-02/549/51381/00020.wmv

Video file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-02/549/51381/00019.wmv 

At 12:05 pm on February 2, 2012, Portland firefighters were dispatched to reports of a house on fire at 14200 NW Riverview Drive.  Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 22 (St. Johns) arrived first on-scene. 

Firefighters quickly discovered that a piece of metal flashing from the roof had dislodged and fell against a transmission power line, fully “energizing” the structure and any metal parts therein.  This created extremely dangerous conditions for firefighters to search the home for occupants and a cat that was reported missing.

Firefighters determined that everyone had exited the home safely. Deputy Chief John Harding ordered all crews to evacuate and stay out of the structure for their safety until the power could be shut off.  Firefighters were directed to leave all aluminum ladders that had been deployed in place and withdraw from the house. 

At 12:56 pm, PGE disconnected the power. Firefighters then entered the structure to knock down the fire after the Incident Commander deemed it was safe to do so.

Reports indicate that the power outage affected traffic lights in the vicinity of the Sauvie Island Bridge and along some portions of Highway 30.

Fire Investigators were called to the scene to help determine the cause of the fire and no estimates of damages are available at this time.

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

Updated with Fire Cause & Photos

February 4, 2012

6:30 PM

A Portland Fire Investigator has determined that the fire was caused by a careless smoker. The estimated damage cost is still unknown at this time.

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February 4, 2012

6:29 PM

At 9:48 am this morning Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a house on fire at 13015 SE Sherman Street. Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 7 (Mill Park) arrived 4 minutes later and found light smoke coming from under the eves of the house.

The crew from Engine 7 pulled a hose line into the abandoned building and began pulling away the ceiling to expose the majority of the fire which was in the attic space. As Engine 7 was extinguishing the flames the crew from Truck 7 climbed onto the roof and determined they needed to open part of the roof in order to release the heat, smoke and fire gasses. This ventilation process is done to improve the fire conditions inside the building. Although the house was abandoned, fire crews still conducted a thorough primary and secondary search to ensure there were no people or animals inside.

"Life safety will always be our number one priority and so even if a house looks abandoned, we never assume. We search once and then we search again." Said Portland Fire Lieutenant David Barron.

The fire was brought under control at 10:10 am and a Portland Fire Investigator is on scene working to determine the fire cause and damage estimates. Information regarding the cause of the fire and the estimated damage cost will be given as it becomes available.

  Portland Fire & Rescue