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On Tuesday, Dec. 10, firefighters will receive the rare gift of meeting an individual they rescued from a house fire in Milwaukie, six months ago. The crews who responded to and performed the rescue will host 19-year-old Timm Wilson-Kreuger and his family to a fire house lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Milwaukie Station 2, 3200 SE Harrison St., Milwaukie. After extensive medical care, months in the ICU and continued rehabilitation, Timm has reached a point in his recovery where he is able to come and visit the crews who rescued him that day.  

Lieutenant Justin McWilliams, who was part of the search and rescue effort said, “Our mission is simple, ‘To safely Protect and preserve life and property.’ What makes this career so rewarding, is to see the impact we truly have on our public. We have built a relationship and amazing bond with Tammi, Kevin and Timm over the last six months, following a significant fire that almost took everything from the Wilson family. We get to celebrate Timm’s recovery together at the firehouse, which is less than a mile from the address that brought us all together.”

Initial Incident Background

On June 13, 2019, crews were dispatched to a report that a house was on fire with occupants trapped inside. Firefighters arrived and found a single-story home with a large amount of black smoke and fire coming out of several windows. With reports confirming that someone was still inside, first arriving crews quickly made access to the home without the protection of a hose line to begin looking for the trapped individual. From witness reports and a quick systematic search, firefighters were able to locate 19-year-old Timm, who had locked himself in the hallway bathroom when the fire started.  After locating him, the firefighting team was able to make their way in low visibility and high heat conditions to a front window where he was lifted out and handed to a team of waiting firefighters. Medical care was inititated before being transported to an area hosptial. Timm, who is Down syndrome and Autistic, ended up in the bathroom after becoming scared when an accidental cooking fire started in the kitchen. In addition to the quick actions of the firefighters, the closed door was credited for keeping the smoke and heat out of the bathroom and creating a survivable space for Timm in the minutes he waited to be rescued. 

Members of the media are invited to attend this private family event.  

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.

Milwaukie Station 2

3200 SE Harrison St., Milwaukie, OR 97222

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Shortly before 6:30 p.m. crews were dispatched to the Oak Acres Mobile Home park at 10701 SE Highway 212 and arrived to find heavy fire involvment inside a mobile home with a large crowd gathering outside.  With early reports that a person was still inside the home looking for a pet, firefighters went into "Rescue Mode" to quickly search the building to ensure everyone had escaped.  Crews were ultimately able to confirm that everyone had escaped without injury and continued to work to exinguish the fire.

Two people were home at the time the fire occured and were alerted by a working smoke alarm at the same time they noticed smoke in the building. The fire caused significant damage, displacing the two residents and has left two pets unaccounted for.  Fire Investigators will begin to work to determine what caused the blaze as well as determine the damage estimate.  

Clackamas Fire would like to remind our community that in the event of a fire, it is critically important to get out of the building and stay out.  The best thing families can do if a pet is left in the building, is to get out and give that information to our highly trained and properly equipped firefighters. Please do not attempt to re-enter the buidling in search of a pet. 

Rescue Mode is a technique that firefighters use to quickly make entry into a building when it is highly likely that someone is still inside.  In this mode, the firefighters are going into a dangerous environment without a backup team and at times no additional units on the scene.  

Operation Santa

Happy Valley, ORE – The Operation Santa Claus program is a holiday toy and food drive organized by Clackamas Fire District #1’s volunteers and employees. The funding is largely supported by the Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation and donations from members of the community. The season kicked off on Nov. 18 by donating non-perishable food and new, unwrapped toys to collection barrels or through a partnership with Clackamas Town Center’s Giving Tree. Santa climbs aboard an antique fire engine to collect non-perishable food and new toys during 15 neighborhood parades, beginning on Nov. 30.

Brandon Paxton, public information officer for Clackamas Fire District #1 said last year's “Operation Santa Claus collected nearly 54,000 pounds of food and over 8,300 toys to serve 2,188 citizens.”

If you can't make one of the parades, here are other ways you can help:

The Giving Tree: Families who have applied for assistance through Compassion in Action Clackamas County have provided wish lists of gifts for children in need. Select a gift tag from the Giving Tree, located at the Clackamas Town Center. The gift tag will identify a child's or family's name, age and gift wish. Purchase the gift and return it to the Giving Tree.

Collection Barrels: Drop off donations of non-perishable food and new, unwrapped toys to collection barrels located at all Clackamas Fire District #1 community fire stations and participating businesses listed on our website, beginning on Nov. 18 through Dec. 15.

Check or Cash Donations: The Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization associated with Clackamas Fire and other first responder agencies. Checks or cash donations are accepted and can be mailed to Clackamas Fire District #1, c/o: Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation, 11300 SE Fuller Rd., Milwaukie, OR 97222.

For more information about Operation Santa, parade dates and route maps, or to apply for assistance, visit Clackamas Fire's website: http://www.clackamasfire.com/operation-santa-claus/.
 

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