Portland Fire & Rescue
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News Releases
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PF&R CHAT and ORT Teams (Photo) - 03/28/24

PF&R CHAT and ORT Teams
Results of the first 30 days of ORT Service

Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PF&R) Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) is an innovative first response program that addresses non-emergent medical calls within our response area. In 2021 PF&R created CHAT to properly address the high numbers of low acuity (less critical) medical calls that are negatively impacting the pre-hospital care system. CHAT team members include EMT Basics, Paramedics, Supervisors and Registered Nurses. Two-person teams respond to non-emergent 911 calls and follow protocols to treat community members in the community, provide health education, access to healthcare and social services. A CHAT Follow-Up team reaches out to the community member within 24 hours after the original 911 call to ensure they have service connections they need. CHAT teams work with a wide variety of community partners to get this important work done. 

In partnership with CareOregon, CHAT teams provide an improved service to the community with the goals of reducing unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits, improving health literacy, and facilitating access to medical care instead of transporting to an ED. CHAT diverts 45% of their calls away from local hospital ED’s. The CHAT Follow-Up Team reduces additional calls from the 911 system and works one-on-one with clients to gain access to care and improve client knowledge of their disease process. 

To aid in the Fentanyl Crisis, CHAT operates a specialized Overdose Response Team (ORT) in the city core along with piloting an innovative Medication for Opioid Use Disorder program aimed at providing medication assisted treatment for substance use disorder at the time of the 911 call, rather than transporting patients to already crowded ED’s. CHAT 1 focusses their efforts within the city core as this is where many of the overdose responses occur. CHAT 1 operates out of Fire Station 1 and will be dispatched directly to all P23 overdose incidents withing the Station 1 Fire Management Area (FMA) and will add themselves to OD incidents outside the primary FMA if they can access the patient in a timely manner, which they do regularly. Providing access to medication at the time of the 911 call provides the right treatment at the right time for this disease and saves lives by assisting more individuals into treatment programs. Attached to this release is a document that summarizes the successes of the first 30 days of ORT operation.

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Portland Fire responds to 3rd alarm fire overnight. (Photo) - 03/26/24

Portland Fire responds to 3rd alarm fire overnight.

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a commercial fire located in the Madison South Neighborhood at just before 2 AM. The location is a single-story strip mall with a closed restaurant space occupying 1/3 of the structure on the western edge and a large Asian Market occupying the remaining 2/3 of the 20000 square foot building. A 3rd alarm fire ensued that will be a total loss of the structure. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The first arriving engine company to the Pacific Market complex reported smoke showing from the roof of the structure over the top of the closed restaurant space. An offensive fire attack was directed by the command officer with crews entering the space that had many of the windows boarded up with plywood. Interior crews communicated a report of moderate heat and thick smoke with the members having a difficult time finding the source of the fire. With thick brown smoke pushing out of the double entry doors, the chief who had assumed command called for all interior crews to withdraw from the structure and directed a defensive fire attack with large water streams to address the fire from the safety of the outside of the structure. The chief also requested a second alarm response to the fire which doubles the number of firefighters to nearly 60 members. A truck officer who was on the roof at the time the withdraw order was placed communicated that fire had run the entire length of the roof structure and agreed a defensive strategy was appropriate.

The 3 trucks on scene surrounded the structure with water lines being connected to the hydrants to provide the needed water for the operation. The water pressure required for multiple aerial master streams to successfully operate challenged the available water supply. Many area fire hydrants were tapped with an engine placed at many of these hydrants to increase the water pressure greater than that available at the hydrant itself. This committed many engines to hydrants and trucks to provide adequate water pressure for the task at hand. As the hose lines from the fire hydrants were being put into place the growing flames began to impinge on the overhead powerlines causing a safety concern. Pacific Power was requested to the scene to cut the electricity running through the lines for the safety of those working in the area.

Twenty minutes into the incident, the flames had yet to breach into the market from the adjacent space but there was heavy smoke pushing out of the front door indicating heavy fire activity overhead. Crews were removing items from the entry way of the market to allow for quick deployment of handheld hose lines if the fire overhead was controlled by the aerial operation and the command officer changed tactical choices from defensive to offensive fire attack. With the intensity of the fire growing and concerns that there may be wall collapse all fire hoses and personnel were pulled away from the building for safe operations.

The fire had now run the roof of the structure and ignited the fire load present on the inside of the market with all the food and other supplies on the interior. Approximately 8 homes were temporarily evacuated with concerns for the safety of the residents in the homes along the eastern edge of the building. With 20’ flames from the top of the structure located closely to these homes, a 3rd alarm was requested to be certain to have enough personnel on hand in the event of fire spread to additional structures. The 3rd alarm companies were being directed to the eastern side of the building upon arrival to be ready to address the possibility of fire spread to the homes. A few large exposure lines were successfully put in place to prevent any extension of the fire across the street to the homes. Residents were escorted back into their homes after 15 minutes once it was apparent that the fire threat was reduced, and it was safe to shelter in their residences.

Shortly after the arrival of the 3rd alarm companies the fire was considered under control and no longer a threat to extend to different buildings. The fire was recalled 90 minutes into the incident with all companies working on scene. There were no reported injuries, and no one will be displaced due to the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Portland Fire would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC and the members of Pacific Power for their help in during this fire incident.

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Richmond Fire
Richmond Fire
PF&R battles two SE PDX fires overnight (Photo) - 03/19/24

(Photos Added in Update)

 

PF&R battles two SE PDX fires overnight

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two overnight house fires in Southeast Portland. Each fire is under investigation. No reported injuries to occupants or responding fire crews on either fire. With the fires located quite close to each other, crews were being released from the first residential fire to respond to and get assigned a duty at the second fire.

At just after 11 PM, PF&R responded to a residential fire in the Division – Clinton Neighborhood. Fire was to have reported to have started in an exterior shed and then extended to the primary residence. When crews arrived, there was significant fire on the backside of the home. Crews were directed to address the exterior fire first to prevent any further exposure fires to surrounding structures. Crews then went interior of the large 2 ½ story residence with a basement with multiple hose lines to address the interior fire on the elevated floors. With the large home and fire that had worked its way from the second story to the ½ story attic addition, crews were interior for extended periods of time. Crews were required to switch out at the end of the nozzles on multiple occasions due to their protective air bottles running low on available air with the extended interior work times. Roof ventilation crews were able to successfully cut holes for smoke and fire to escape and aid in the fire suppression below them. The fire was considered completely extinguished just after the 30-minute mark.

As crews were working on the first residential fire, a second residential fire was called in about 20 blocks to the east in the Richmond Neighborhood. Police on scene confirming smoke is present coming from the structure and that all occupants are out safely. With all the crews that would normally respond to this location tied up at the first fire, the arriving responders were coming from a bit further away than under normal conditions. Crews unassigned at the previous fire were also redirected to respond to this second incident. 

Crews arrived to have smoke pushing out from the second story and an offensive fire attack was directed by the chief in command. Crews were also directed to search the structure and gain access to the roof for ventilation purposes. In just under the 10-minute mark, the crews had the fire extinguished with the search confirming all occupants were out of the structure and the roof crews were able to ventilate aiding in the firefighting activities below them. An investigator requested with no obvious cause to the firefighters on scene.

There were no reported injuries in either fire. An unknown number of individuals and pets are going to be relocated at this time.

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PF&R Has a Busy St. Patricks Day Weekend - 03/18/24

First Responders were kept busy during this warm holiday weekend. Firefighters responded to a number of incidents, some of the more significant were:

-Early yesterday morning crews went to a 2nd alarm apartment fire that displaced people in five apartment units. No injuries were associated with this fire, but as the fire was brought under control a shooting in the area forced fire commanders to release one engine and crew from the fire to respond to the shooting. The victims of the shooting reportedly suffered injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening.

-Yesterday a separate fire burned interior contents in a home when a burning candle reportedly came into contact with curtains and bedding. While the fire was extinguished quickly, one person suffered 1st and possibly 2nd degree burns. 

-A medical event in Forest Park necessitated a rescue by crews using ATV's and 4-wheel drive fire vehicles to bring the victim out. The victim is expected to recover.

These events are in addition to the always numerous smaller fires, vehicle crashes, medical and other emergencies that responders deal with daily.

This weekend served as a primer for responders and should be a reminder for the public that as things slowly heat up there are things that you can do to help us to keep you safe, here are a few:

Window Safety: Remember as weather warms a breeze can be nice, but those big open windows can pose a fall hazard for children. Keep climbable furniture well away from windows and keep windows closed and locked if small children are present. Remember screens keep bugs out, not people in. If you have auxiliary locks on your windows please ensure that they can be easily removed in the event that your family needs to escape a fire. Here are some tips from the National Safety Council:

https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/child-safety/window-safety-week

Hiking: If you’re going out to enjoy Forest Park or any of our other beautiful PNW natural areas please plan ahead with safety in mind. Let people know where you’re going and when you’ll return. Take your cell phone, even though you hopefully won’t use it, in an emergency it can allow responders to locate you more quickly. Lastly pack emergency equipment, what you need will depend on where you’re going. Here are some additional tips from our partners at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue:

https://www.mcso.us/divisions/law-enforcement/search-rescue#ten-essentials-for-hiking

Backyard Barbeques and Fire Pits: We hope you’ll make safety the biggest consideration when burning outdoors. Only burn in specially designed and approved containers; these may be BBQ grills or fire pits with metal lids and or spark containing screens. While that fire pit might be a fun way to keep the party going, your neighbors may be elderly or have small children and they might not enjoy the smoke that’s blowing into their windows, consider limiting the time that you burn. Lastly, make sure to properly dispose of ashes in a metal container and store it well away from anything that could burn.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/article/405003

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Portland Fire Responds to 2 Alarm Fire & Shooting Nearby (Photo) - 03/17/24

Portland Fire responded to reports of a fire in a dumpster between two buildings right after midnight at 1923 NE Schuyler St. Crews arrived to find a 2 story apartment building flanking either side of the dumpster with approximately a dozen units in either building.  The fire was able to travel up the siding and into the attic space of both buildings. Crews made quick work of extinguishing the fire by performing agressive work on the roof and getting hose lines in place. By cutting multiple holes in the roof they were able to keep fire damage to only a few units, and saved many.  There were no injuries to any occupants, however many will be displaced due to the incident as there at least five uninhabitable units. Red Cross is working with these individuals. Fire investigators are on scene to determine the cause of the fire. 
 

As this incident was happening and crews were still working to put out hotspots, a shooting happened nearby in the area of NE 15th and NE Broadway. Portland Fire had crews in staging waiting to work on the fire if they were needed but were able to release Engine 14 to render medical aid to the shooting victim.  The individual was transported to the hospital with injuries.