NEWS RELEASE

The summer outdoor burn ban has been lifted in all areas of Multnomah County effective October 1, 2022

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Multnomah County, Ore. - Fire Defense Board Chief Scott Lewis has lifted the outdoor burn ban in all areas of Multnomah County effective October 1, 2022. The burn ban has been lifted due to the cooler temperatures, increase in nighttime moisture, and the return of rainfall, which has improved the moisture content of the local ground cover.

Keeping in mind the recent wildfires throughout Oregon, however, please ensure any outdoor burning is conducted as safely as possible.

Recreational campfires, fire pits, and agricultural burning is now permitted on DEQ approved burn days. Yard debris and open burning is allowed only in permitted areas. Yard debris and open burning is never permitted in the City of Portland. 

Yard debris burning in Troutdale and Fire District 10 will begin on Saturday, October 1st with DEQ approval.

Yard debris burning in Gresham, Fairview, and Wood Village will begin on Saturday, October 15th with DEQ approval.

Check with your local Fire Department/District for more information. For updated information please call the burning information line at:

--503-618-3083 for Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview, Fire District 10
--503-695-2225 for Corbett Fire District 14 
--503-621-1242 for Sauvie Island District 30
--General Information for Portland Fire & Rescue, 503-823-3700

For additional information, contact Gresham Fire and Emergency Services at 503-618-2355.

To learn more, visit www.greshamoregon.gov or visit us on Twitter at @CityofGresham.

MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR

Multnomah Fire Defense Board Chief Scott Lewis has issued an outdoor burn ban effective immediately in all areas of Multnomah County.

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The Ban goes in effect Monday, July 25, 2021, at 8:00 a.m.
The burn ban has been issued due to forecasted high temperatures, limited rainfall, and ongoing dry conditions.

The burn ban includes recreational campfires, fire pits, yard debris (branches, yard debris, etc.), agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, etc.), and permits issued for open burning (other land clearing, slash, stump, debris, or controlled burning) until further notice.

Check with your local Fire Department/District for more information. For updated information please call the burning information line at:
--503-618-3083 for Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview, Fire District 10
--503-695-2225 for Corbett Fire District 14
--503-621-1242 for Sauvie Island District 30
--503-823-3700 for Portland Fire & Rescue general information

Outdoor barbecuing Barbeque (grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels) is still allowed; however, residents should exercise extreme caution. When using charcoal briquettes please properly dispose of ashes in a covered metal container away from combustibles, and keep the ashes wet for a few days before properly disposing of them. Maintain at least ten feet between outdoor cooking and anything combustible such as siding, fences, shrubbery, etc.

Smokers are reminded to ensure their cigarettes are truly out and placed in proper receptacles.

Those living in rural areas are asked to maintain their defensible space by monitoring growth surrounding homes and structures, and to maintain adequate access for firefighting equipment. 

With predicted higher temperatures, and low humidity, Portland Fire Marshal Kari Schimel has issued an outdoor burn ban effective immediately within the city limits of Portland. 

The burn ban includes recreational campfires, fire pits, yard debris, agricultural burning and permits issued for open burning until further notice.  Check with your local Fire Department/District for more information.

Barbecuing is still allowed; however, residents should exercise extreme caution. When using charcoal briquettes please properly dispose of ashes in a covered metal container away from combustibles, and keep the ashes wet for a few days before properly disposing of them. Maintain at least ten feet between outdoor cooking and anything combustible such as siding, fences, shrubbery, etc.

Smokers are reminded to ensure their cigarettes are truly out and placed in proper receptacles. Fireworks are not allowed in the City of Portland.

Those living in rural areas are asked to maintain their defensible space by monitoring growth surrounding homes and structures, and to maintain adequate access for firefighting equipment.

Contact Info: PIO Media Pager 503-940-6003 fireinfo@portlandoregon.gov

CareOregon invests $2.5 million to build program capacity so it can serve Oregon Health Plan members

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 13, 2021)—Today, Portland Fire & Rescue received approval from City Council to launch a new community health program to address the health and social needs of community members calling 9-1-1 for non-emergent issues. PF&R is working toward launching the program in mid-November.

As first responders, firefighters are often the first to interact with a person who has dialed 9-1-1 for medical reasons. About a third of these calls are for issues that don’t require hospitalization or a trip to the emergency room.

 “Since I have become Fire Chief one of my main objectives is that Portland Fire & Rescue evolves from a place of emergency response alone, to one where preventative community health becomes a fundamental part of our overall mission,” said Portland Fire & Rescue’s Chief Boone. “Up until now we haven’t had a mechanism to allow us to spend the time needed to assess and treat community members on scene, and connect them with appropriate care and resources they need. We’re launching the Community Health Assess & Treat program to fill this pivotal gap. We believe that this program will help us better serve the community, improve the health outcomes of our community members and make use of limited emergency resources.”

The Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) program is designed to be a proactive intervention, reaching community members in their time of need with 1-on-1 support from a medical professional. CHAT will leverage the strengths of PF&R—the city’s largest licensed pre-hospital care workforce—to:

• Provide individuals who call 9-1-1 for non-emergent health issues the care they need in the moment and connect them to the right resources to get them on the path to health improvement (e.g. connected to a Primary Care Physician, enrolled on Oregon Health Plan, etc.).
• Provide education to community members regarding how to access appropriate healthcare in the future—so they use 9-1-1 as a last resort, instead of their first option.
• Help reduce the number of individuals going to the emergency department for non-emergent issues.

“I am proud to support Portland Fire & Rescue as we enter into a partnership to create ‘Community Health Assess & Treat’ teams,” said Commissioner Hardesty. “Chief Boone eloquently set a vision of community health when she took the helm of the bureau, and I couldn’t be more excited to see that vision realized as we enter into this continued work that will help meet the health needs of our communities where they are at. We are truly innovating and building a new model that Portland can be proud of.”

Local healthcare non-profit, CareOregon is investing $2.5 million in PF&R’s CHAT program to build its capacity to best serve those eligible for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). 

“CareOregon has been working for decades to find ways to help individuals access the care they need in the right setting,” said Eric C. Hunter, CareOregon CEO, “because we know that accessing preventative healthcare saves lives. We believe that this partnership with Portland Fire & Rescue is an opportunity to work upstream and help connect Oregon Health Plan members with ‘in the moment care’ and health education, so they can be better connected to the healthcare system and get the support they need.”

“We are excited about this historic partnership with CareOregon,” said Chief Boone. “Portland Fire & Rescue and CareOregon share a common commitment to health equity and a vision for creating a community where all of our neighbors have, and understand how to access, the health and social service supports they need to live healthy, productive lives.”

“We believe the first interaction we have with a community member who has called 9-1-1 may change the trajectory of their overall health, truly getting them the right care at the right time,” said Chief Boone.

CHAT is part of a larger effort to address community health and social equity issues in our region. It will be housed under PF&R’s new Community Health Division, alongside Portland Street Response and Community Connect.  

About CareOregon

For more than 25 years, CareOregon has offered health services and community benefit programs to Oregon Health Plan members. Today, we support the needs of more than 500,000 Oregonians through three coordinated care organizations, a Medicare Advantage plan, a Tribal Care Coordination program, a dental care organization and in-home medical care with Housecall Providers. CareOregon members have access to integrated physical, dental and mental health care and substance use treatment. We believe that good health requires more than clinics and hospitals, so we also connect members to housing, fresh food, education and transportation services. CareOregon is a mission-driven, community-based nonprofit with offices in Portland, Medford and Seaside, Oregon.

Press Kit

Video of Chief Boone on CHAT

Commissioner Hardesty on CHAT

Photos

At noon on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021, Portland Fire and Rescue was dispatched to SE 13TH Ave and SE Hawthorne Blvd on the report of black smoke coming from a building. When the first crews arrived they found heavy black smoke coming from a large roll up door. Within a short amount of time, the fire broke through the windows and the roof of the building and became a very fast moving, large fire. Second and third alarms were quickly called to bring sufficient resources to the scene. At one point, a smoke explosion injured two firefighters who were fighting the fire from the outside of the building. One firefighter was transported to the hospital during the incident and the second was taken to the hospital after the fire had been knocked down. Both firefighters have minor injuries and are expected to be released from the hospital today. No other injuries were reported. 

There were four business located in this building. The fire spread to the entire building and most of the roof is now collapsed. Fire crews are still on scene attempting to extinguish hot spots and they will likely be there throughout the night. Fire investigators are also on scene working to determine the cause of the fire.