The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

Fire Prevention Week was established in 1922 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  The incident killed nearly 300 people, destroyed thousands of structures, and left 100,000 people homeless. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country.

Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States, so this year’s Fire Prevention Week (October 4th – 10th) theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen, and scald burns from hot liquids are the second leading cause of all burn injuries. A few simple but effective actions can be taken to keep your loved ones safe in the kitchen.

• Stay focused on the food when cooking – unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen.

• Put a lid on it – a simple step when a stove top fire gets out of control.

• Keep cooking areas clear – remove clutter and give cooking appliances space.

• Prevent scalds and burns – turn pot handles in and keep them away from counter edges.

For more information on how to serve up safety in the kitchen, check out our tips on Cooking Safely. 

Fire Defense Board Chief Scott Lewis has lifted the outdoor burn ban in all areas of Multnomah County on Oct. 8, 2020. The burn ban has been lifted due to the cooler overnight temperatures, increase in nighttime moisture, and anticipated rainfall, which has improved the moisture content of the local ground cover.

With the recent wildfires throughout Oregon, make sure outdoor burning is conducted with safety at the forefront.

Recreational campfires and fire pits are now permitted. Yard debris and open burning is not permitted in the City of Portland.

There are air quality burn bans that can still be put in effect in the Portland area by the Multnomah County Health Department. You can check the air quality/burning status here: https://multco.us/health/staying-healthy/winter-wood-burning-restrictions.  

Remember: regardless of a burn ban status, please take care with recreational fires.

Some safety information about legal, recreational fires:

1. A recreational fire located in a pit shall be no closer than 25 feet from a structure. Fires contained in fireplace-type receptacles or chimeneas shall be no closer than 15 feet from a structure or the distance listed in the manufacture’s instruction, whichever is less. When required by the Fire Marshal, outdoor burning device stacks shall be equipped with a spark-arresting, 12-gauge wire mesh screen with openings of not less than 3/8” nor more than 1/2”.

2. A responsible person shall be in attendance at all times and have approved fire-extinguishing equipment close at hand.

3. No garbage or similar material is to be burned in these fires.

4. Observe common safety practices while enjoying the recreational fire, e.g. cease burning if the wind picks up to 15 mph or higher, be careful with the consumption of alcohol by any persons around the fire, watch small children in the vicinity, etc.

More information about outside burning: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/article/405003

Since September 2019, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has been awarded $2,355,612 in federal funding in areas ranging from firefighter wellness to community risk reduction to emergency response training. In a time when the effects of the pandemic on local economies continue to be felt, the success of PF&R’s grant-writing team in securing important funds to support the bureau’s mission to protect our region is all that more important.

 “As an emergency response organization, we do not have the option to fail. At a time when General Fund dollars and budgets are constrained, we are always looking at other ways to finance critical programs. In order to respond to emergencies large and small, our effectiveness depends on our PPE, our equipment, our training, and our preparation. Our long-range planning fuels our successful grant program,” says Fire Chief Sara Boone. “I want to especially thank Trisha Schultz and Michael Wong, our grant writing team that collaborated with other PF&R personnel to identify and apply for grants that work toward supporting our highest mission of protecting life, property and the environment.”

The winning grants, funded on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are listed below:

2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG):

• $1,167,544 in funding to install Source Capture Exhaust Systems in PF&R’s 31 stations. Source Capture Exhaust Systems remove diesel exhaust from stations to reduce carcinogenic exposures to firefighters.

• $290,530 for technical rescue training. Rescue trainings will include rope, confined space, trench, and machinery extrication for the technical rescue teams at Stations 1 and 12.

 2019 Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) Grant

• $238,095 to conduct a community risk assessment and staffing study. PF&R will be contracting with a consultant over the next year to complete this study.

 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S)

• $659,443 for the purchase of PPE and related supplies (including reimbursements) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.

Total grant dollars: $2,355,612