2018 Millersburg Celebration

For one year, Albany Fire Department has been providing protection and life safety services to the entire City of Millersburg.   From the Department’s vantage point, it has been a smooth transition and complimentary fit for both municipalities and its residents. 

Albany Fire began taking emergency calls in Millersburg on July 1, 2018.  Station 15, located at 3360 Conser Road, officially opened on October 1, 2018. 

“This has been a mutually beneficial partnership between our two communities,” shared Assistant Chief Shane Wooton.  “Millersburg has seen a decrease in response times and the City of Albany receives an additional resource to assist with the rising call volume we are experiencing in Albany.”

Albany Fire’s current call volume projection for 2019 is forecasted to rise to 10,473 calls.  AFD responded to 9,463 calls in 2018 which is 25.9 calls per day.   The Department has experienced a 70% increase in calls over the past decade.

Station 15 responded to 310 calls, with 49% of the calls originating from Millersburg and the remainder from Albany, Albany Rural Fire District, and areas of mutual aid.  Response times to both non-emergency and emergency calls averaged 5 minutes and 41 seconds. 

“Providing a permanent presence in Millersburg has reduced response times for the ever-growing community but has also given us an opportunity to extend our mission statement of prevention to a population that we had not accessed before,” shared Public Information Officer Sandy Roberts.   

Albany Fire participated in the Millersburg Celebration and other community events over the year.  Department staff also worked with Millersburg businesses to complete 75 fire safety inspections, and reviewed plans for subdivisions, manufactured home parks, and commercial projects for fire safety access and suppression. 

Chief Bradner shared, “The Albany Fire Department has been honored to extend emergency response and life safety services to the entire community of Millersburg over this past year.  We look forward to continuing this positive partnership for years to come.”

Bryant Bridge and cabled sign.

On Thursday, July 11, 2019, at approximately 12:44 a.m., the Albany Police received a 911 emergency call from a citizen reporting a female screaming beneath the Bryant Way Bridge in the 800 block of SW Bryant Way.  The citizen reported a female was hanging on a sign beneath the bridge, over the Calapooia River.

At 12:51 a.m., Albany Police Department and Albany Fire Department responded to the scene. Albany police engaged the distraught female in conversation for approximately 1 hour while Albany Fire Department personnel conducted a technical rescue.  The distraught female, a 47-year old Albany resident, was hanging over the Calapooia River by two braided metal cables and a metal spillway sign.  The sign was suspended approximately 50-60 feet above the waterway.   A fall from this height could have been fatal due to low river levels and large rocks directly below her. 

Albany Fire’s Water Rescue Craft was deployed to the Willamette and Calapooia rivers while a technical rescue was launched from the Bryant Way Bridge.   One firefighter was lowered to the unidentified female where he was able to safely harness and secure her to his own rigging for a rescue pick off.  Both were then lifted to safety by Albany firefighters and police officers.

The female was medically evaluated on scene for injuries and interviewed by Albany Police for further investigation.  In total approximately 23 first responders assisted in this life saving rescue.  Albany Fire Truck 11 is equipped with technical rescue equipment and is frequently staffed with members of our specialized Technical Rescue Team.  Members undergo additional training in high angle rescue.  

Video Link at: https://www.facebook.com/albanyfiredepartment/videos/315547106000819/