Posted: March 23rd, 2010 8:25 AM

Portland Fire & Rescue will accept a $10,000 dollar grant from Propel Insurance of Oregon in conjunction with Firemans Fund Insurance. The latest in a long line of grants from Firemans Fund has been used to purchase a Forward Looking Infared Radar (FLIR) system for one of Portland Fire's Rescue Boats. The remainder was used to purchase computers for training firefighters in tactics and strategies for fighting fires.

This FLIR system will greatly enhance the capabilities of the rescue boats. The FLIR system will allow firefighters to "see in the dark" allowing for quicker rescues at night or in stormy weather on Portland's waterways.

The five laptop computers with portable screens and projectors, will make delivering training to firefighters in their stations more efficient and will allow battalion chiefs and company officers to "practice" fighting fires in buildings.

Portland Fire & Rescue would like to invite the media to a demonstration of this life-saving equipment.

When: March 23, 2010 at 3:00 pm

Where: 05 SE Madison, Portland Fire Station 21 (at the foot of Madison under the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge.)

Why: FLIR system demonstration and media ride-along on Portland Fire's rescue boat. And a demonstration of the Tactical Training Computers.

Join Portland Fire Division Chief John Nohr and representatives from Propel Insurance of Oregon and Firemans Fund Insurance as we test drive this new technology that will save many lives in Portland.

With this $10,000 grant Portland Fire & Rescue has received a total of $92,635 in grants from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and their Heritage Program since November of 2006. The program has awarded more than $25 million in grants to over 1,500 fire departments/fire service organizations through the Heritage Program and more than $330,000 in grants have been awarded in the state of Oregon.


Contact Info: Lt. Allen Oswalt, pager 503-940-6003