Captions notes in press release.

The members of Lebanon Fire District’s C-Shift had a very special visit on Friday afternoon. Cidni O’Brien, 12, was playing in a soccer game at Lebanon’s Cheadle Lake Park on Saturday April 21st when she began to feel sick. After scoring a goal she told her step-father Tim Faulconer, who was officiating the game, that she wasn’t feeling well. Tim recommended she go see her coach, who took her out of the game to rest.

What followed was a traumatic experience for Cidni, her family, and the fans gathered at the game. Cidni sat down on the sideline and then rolled over onto the ground, unresponsive. Bystanders didn’t know if at the time, but Cidni was suffering a cardiac arrest which had stopped her heart. Cidni’s mother Nikki is a registered nurse at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, and as she sat across the field she watched her daughter slump to the ground. As the coach called out for help, Nikki Faulconer raced across the field to assess her daughter who was unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse. Nikki immediately began CPR while bystanders called 911.

Firefighters and paramedics from the Lebanon Fire District were in house at Station 34, located less than a quarter mile from the soccer fields. They were dispatched at 2:36 pm and arrived on scene in just 37 seconds. Crews then had to navigate through dozens of soccer players and fans to find the actual scene of the emergency. Once with Cidni, medics quickly initiated Advanced Life Support care which included intravenous access, defibrillation, and cardiac monitoring. Medics also performed a Rapid Sequence Intubation, in which a patient is chemically paralyzed for the placement of an endotracheal tube which allowed responders to breathe for Cidni.

Cidni was transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital where she was further stabilized before being flown to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland two hours later. Following the incident, the grim reality of the situation began to set in on the fire and EMS crews. “Almost every responder on that call was a parent.” noted LFD Division Chief Jason Bolen. “Serious pediatric calls normally involve a heightened level of stress, and in this case Cidni was very close in age to a number of our own kids which really hits home once the call is over.” First responders went through a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing with LFD Chaplain Brian Gosser following the call, which is typical for incidents with serious emotional impact on responders.

In the days following her flight to Portland Cidni was diagnosed with a rare heart defect called anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery, or AAOCA. The defect restricts blood flow to the heart and ultimately led to her cardiac arrest. Cidni underwent open heart surgery on April 30 to correct the defect, but the risk for arrhythmia and another possible cardiac arrest will remain. That risk meant that Cidni would need to have an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) near her at all times, and AED’s come with a significant price tag. Cidni’s pediatrician, Dr. Dana Kosmala, reached out to the Lebanon Fire District to ask about a loaner AED while the family figured out how to navigate the purchase of their own unit. “When Dr. Kosmala called me to ask if LFD could loan out an AED for a few weeks I thought, we can do better than that!”, said Chief Bolen. Bolen contacted LFD Lieutenant Russell Duerr who serves on the board of LFCAIRS, the Lebanon Firefighters Community Assistance and Initial Relief Service.

LFCAIRS is a non-profit organization which raises funds through donations and fundraising activities to support victims of house fires, traumatic circumstances, or catastrophic loss. “When I received the request from Chief Bolen I knew this was something that LFCAIRS could provide for this Lebanon family that would really help them out during a really difficult time.” said Lieutenant Duerr. In the matter of a few days the new AED was ordered and delivered to Cidni by Dr. Kosmala’s office. 

In the months since her incident Cidni has been focusing on her recovery and trying to get back into the normal routine of family life. While her condition may now limit her competitive sports participation, she looks forward to exchanging that for a horse someday.

It’s not often that responders get to follow up with their patients after the call. In most cases, responders will never know what happened to their patients once leaving the emergency room. That’s why last Friday was so special for the LFD crews when Cidni and her family walked through the doors at Fire Station 31. There were lots of smiles, stories, and even a few tears of joy. Both Nikki and Tim and the Lebanon Fire District continue to advocate for CPR instruction and how to use an AED in the event of another incident like Cidni’s. The fire district offers CPR/AED classes on a regular basis, and the Faulconers hope to see an AED installed at the soccer fields at Cheadle Lake Park.

“The stars really aligned that day so that Cidni had the best care possible from the moment she collapsed until she had her surgery.” notes LFD Battalion Chief Nick Tyler, who was the shift officer working on that April day. “It was a very special moment for us as responders to see her today, smiling and healthy!”.

A family friend has set up a Go Fund Me account for Cidni’s medical expenses. To view or donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/cidni039s-life-flight-fund 

For more information about CPR or AED courses, contact the Lebanon Fire District Fire & Life Safety Division at 541-451-1901.

Photo Attached: Top – Cidni O’Brien Middle(L-R) – Tim Faulconer, Lincoln Faulconer, Nikki Faulconer Lower(L-R) – Battalion Chief Nick Tyler, Firefighter Nick Unruh, Engineer Corey Knipstein, Lieutenant Brett Kibble, Student Intern Brett Doshier.

*** For HD Video of this and other LFD incidents, please subscribe to the Lebanon Fire District YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTxDBuPbD3DPAybCkCgEvg ***

*** For HD photos of this and other LFD incidents, please follow the Lebanon Fire District Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LebanonFireDistrict/?ref=bookmarks ***

*** For updates on large scale incidents within the Lebanon Fire District, follow us on Twitter: @LebanonFD ***

Firefighters from Engine 34 check for extension into the attic space.

On 10/13/2018 at 6:53 PM Lebanon Fire District responded to a house fire at 1960 South 9 th St. in Lebanon.  Upon arrival of the Battalion Chief the home was found to have fire in the structure with smoke and flames visible at the back of the house.  Engines and other apparatus from Lebanon responded to the scene but were hampered in their suppression efforts due to multiple propane tanks venting and ammunition that was involved in the fire. After it was safe to enter, crews  got a quick knock down on the exterior of the home, working to the inside of the home where the fire was extinguished completely.

It took seven fire apparatus and twenty firefighters to extinguish the blaze.  The cause of the fire was a generator used to supply electrical equipment located at the rear of the home. The occupants of the home were alerted to the fire by neighbors that saw the blaze and acted quickly to help the occupants get out.  There were no injuries reported.

Albany Fire assisted Lebanon by standing by while Lebanon’s crews were extinguishing the fire.

Attached Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlEgJlydXy0

Lebanon House Fire - 12th Street

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Lebanon Family Escapes Early Morning House Fire

Two Lebanon residents and their pets ran from their home as a rapidly growing fire began to consume the single-story home. The Lebanon Fire District received the call for a house fire at 12:53 a.m. Wednesday morning, and units were on the scene in the 400 block of 12th Street in just 30 seconds. Firefighters used an offensive attack to extinguish the fire in the rear of the house, which had spread into the attic space and through the roof in the back of the home. Crews then quickly accessed the attic space to extinguish the fire and check for extension.

Two adult residents were home at the time and both escaped without injury. The couple were able to bring their dog out with them, and firefighters later rescued their cat from inside the structure. All occupants were unharmed. The cause of the fire was undetermined at the time of the fire, but the Lebanon Fire Investigation Team will be gathering later this morning to begin a full investigation.

The residence did have working smoke alarms which notified the occupants of the fire. October is national Fire Prevention Month, and fire officials remind residents to check their smoke alarms every month and change the batteries twice a year.

“This is a prime example of why we want to make sure that every home has the proper number of smoke alarms and that people ensure that those smoke alarms work.” stressed Lebanon Division Chief Jason Bolen. “Working smoke alarms save lives, and tonight they saved this family from disaster.”

Your home should have a smoke alarm in each bedroom, one outside the sleeping areas, and at least one on each level of the house, including the basement. The Lebanon Fire District has a smoke alarm program which can provide home owners with smoke detectors and install them properly. For more information about fire safety or the LFD smoke alarm program visit the LFD website at www.lebanonfire.org or contact the Fire & Life Safety Division at 541-451-1901.

*** For HD Video of this and other LFD incidents, please subscribe to the Lebanon Fire District YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTxDBuPbD3DPAybCkCgEvg ***

*** For HD photos of this and other LFD incidents, please follow the Lebanon Fire District Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LebanonFireDistrict/?ref=bookmarks ***

*** For updates on large scale incidents within the Lebanon Fire District, follow us on Twitter: @LebanonFD ***

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Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.

The Lebanon Fire District is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” which works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire.

NFPA statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980.

“These numbers show that while we’ve made significant progress in teaching people how to prevent fires from happening, there’s still much more work to do in terms of educating the public about how to protect themselves in the event of one,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “This is particularly critical given the increased speed at which today’s home fires grow and spread.”

Carli also notes that although people feel safest in their home, it is also the place people are at greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occurring at home. That over-confidence contributes to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice.

“Working in the fire service for many years, we know that people often make choices in fire situations that jeopardize their safety or even cost them their lives,” said Jason Bolen Division Chief of Fire & Life Safety of the Lebanon Fire District. “We need to do a better job of teaching people about the potentially life-saving difference escape planning and practice can make and motivating them to take action.”

Bolen says this year’s “Look. Listen. Learn.” campaign highlights three steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire:

• Look for places fire could start.
• Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.
• Learn 2 ways out of every room.

While the Lebanon Fire District are focusing on home fires, these fire safety messages apply to virtually anywhere.

“Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go,” said Division Chief Bolen. “No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately.”

As part of Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, the Lebanon Fire District is visiting every third grade classroom within their District to spread the message of home fire safety to students. Fire & Life Safety staff will visit 15 classrooms within the Lebanon Community School District, Sand Ridge Academy, and East Linn Christian Academy during the week of October 8th. For more information on how to make your home more fire safe, contact the Lebanon Fire District at 541-451-1901.

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***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Lebanon Firefighters Battle 2-Alarm House Fire, Lacomb Grocery Store Saved

An early morning house fire at 34076 East Lacomb Road displaced a family and destroyed their single wide mobile home on Wednesday morning. First arriving fire crews to the 12:46 a.m. blaze reported heavy fire from the front of the structure with impingement on the Lacomb Grocery store next door. Flames had extended to a rear storage area of the store and were working their way into the main structure when crews arrived.

Initial crews immediately called for a second alarm, bringing additional resources from the Albany, Scio, and Sweet Home Fire Districts to assist with the blaze. Firefighters deployed large hose streams to combat the heavy fire and prevent it from further advancing on the Lacomb Grocery building while simultaneously working on the mobile home fire to extinguish it completely.

Live power lines overhead prevented crews from working on one side of the mobile home until a Pacific Power worker was able to disconnect the feed. The fire was under control in about 90 minutes and crews remained on scene another 90 minutes for salvage and overhaul.

The occupants of the home had left less than an hour before the fire broke out to deliver newspapers. One cat is believed to have died in the fire but there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. Crews remained on scene throughout the night to maintain scene security and the Lebanon Fire Investigation Team will begin their search this morning into the origin and cause of the fire.

*** For HD Video of this and other LFD incidents, please subscribe to the Lebanon Fire District YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTxDBuPbD3DPAybCkCgEvg ***

*** For HD photos of this and other LFD incidents, please follow the Lebanon Fire District Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LebanonFireDistrict/?ref=bookmarks ***

*** For updates on large scale incidents within the Lebanon Fire District, follow us on Twitter: @LebanonFD ***

What: New Fire Station Community Outreach Meeting

When: October 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM

Where: Fire Station 31, 1050 W. Oak St., Lebanon, OR

The Lebanon Fire District is planning on replacing Fire Station 31 and we need your input. We invite you to come to a community meeting to learn about the District’s plan to improve capabilities to meet the community’s needs.

Fire Station 31 is the main fire station for the District and houses administrative and management staff as well as emergency response fire and EMS crews. The fire station was originally built in 1975 and has served the District well, but is due for replacement based on seismic, life safety, size, and workflow concerns. Construction is currently planned to begin in 2021. 

You are asked to give your input on the overall design of the new station at a Community Outreach meeting on October 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM. The current fire station will be open for tours, and a community discussion will be led by the District’s consulting architect who will help direct staff in the overall design of the new fire station. 

Please come to learn more about the District needs and provide your input for your fire station. Your input is important to us.