April 2, 2012

8:39 AM

Do you know a young woman between the age of 16 and 19 who is interested in learning what being a firefighter is all about?

Portland Fire & Rescue, in partnership with other metro-area fire agencies, is offering a three-day fire training camp specifically for young women ages 16 to 19.  Fire Camp 2012 will be held June 22, 23, & 24, 2012 at Portland Fire & Rescue's Training Center located at 4800 NE 122nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon.

The goals of Fire Camp are to instill confidence, build leadership and team skills in young women, and to provide an opportunity to try firefighting through hands-on training.  Fire Camp will be taught and supervised by women firefighters from the Portland metro area.

Fire Camp participants will be involved in hands-on activities, including:

• Orientation and Practical Exercises: Hydrant and hose evolutions
• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): Participants will practice exercise drills, become familiar with SCBA, and learn search and rescue techniques using the SCBA
• High Angle Rescue and Confined Space: Participants will learn high angle rescue techniques and simulate a confined space rescue
• Vehicle Extrication and Medical Response: Participants will work on team building exercises, visit a fire station, become familiar with different firefighting equipment and apparatus, and participate in vehicle extrication and medical response

Fire Camp 2012 will be held at no cost to participants.  This is a non-residential camp and participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from camp.  Applications for Fire Camp 2012 will be accepted now through May 23, 2012.  Interested applicants can get more information and submit an application online at http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/firecamp.

Incident Statistics: 

Total Incidents: 1,271

Medical: 1,063

Fire: 25

Other: 183

Major Incidents: 1 (further information provided below)

• 03/28/12 @ 1740 hrs, Apartment Fire, 6500 block of  N Greeley Ave. Loss: $35,000 Cause: Combustibles close to wall heater

April 2, 2012 -- On April 1, 2012, the Japan-America Society of Oregon presented the 2012 “Sakura Sunday” at the Japanese American Historical Plaza.

The second annual event held special meaning as it celebrated the friendship between the United States and Japan. In fact, Portland's waterfront cherry trees were a gift to the City of Portland from the Japanese Grain Importers Association in 1989.

Sakura Sunday included a riverfront gathering where citizens sent well-wishes to Japan and dropped flowers into the Willamette River. Citizens were also treated to a water-display by Portland Fire & Rescue’s Fireboat David Campbell.

April 2, 2012 -- Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. While some falls occur from windows, it is important to realize that in the event of a fire, a window can also save a child’s life. This is why windows play a critical role in home safety.

Click here for easy to follow tips that will help keep your family safe around the windows in your home.

Visit NW Natural online at https://www.nwnatural.com

Careless digging can damage underground utilities, causing disruption of vital services, property damage and even possible injury. Portland Fire & Rescue, in partnership with NW Natural Gas, urges citizens to take the proper steps to avoid damage and prevent expensive repairs, project delays, and costly fines.

Prior to outdoor construction or digging, contractors and property owners in Oregon are encouraged to call 1-800-332-2344.  In Washington, contact 1-800-424-5555.

Or, simply call 8-1-1.

Locate Requests

NW Natural and other underground utilities respond to locate requests (someone inquiring where underground lines are located) by marking the location of mains and service lines. This helps ensure that digging in the area will be conducted safely. NW Natural also takes further steps to assure the safe operation of its natural gas distribution system:

• Pipelines are designed, constructed, and tested under rigid specifications established by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• A high safety margin is designed into the pipe to allow it to withstand any stress that might occur because of ground movement.
• The company installs flexible polyethylene plastic and high-strength steel pipelines; all pipe materials must meet high quality standards.
• After many years of experience, these pipe installations have proven to be resilient and resistant to land movement associated with earthquakes, landslides, and other natural disasters.
• NW Natural personnel frequently patrol the company’s mains and service lines to ensure continued safe and reliable operation.

More Information

For information about excavation laws and enforcement actions, or other related Call Before You Dig issues, visit the following web sites:

• Oregon Utility Notification Center: http://www.digsafelyoregon.com/
• Washington Utilities Coordinating Council: http://www.washington-ucc.org/