TVF&R Blog » Bond Projects

Plans to Rebuild TVF&R Fire Station Temporarily On Hold

Brian Barker — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:09:32 +0000

Last summer, Washington County approved TVF&R’s land use application to rebuild Fire Station 68 at 13545 NW Evergreen Street in the Oak Hills area. That application is temporarily on hold following an Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) ruling. The construction project was appealed to LUBA by a citizen who disagreed with Washington County’s interpretation of the code and subsequent approval of TVF&R’s land use application.

LUBA had the authority to make one of three rulings: approve, reverse, or remand the case back to the Washington County Hearings Officer. LUBA ruled to remand the case back to Washington County for potential code amendment. The two code issues in question center on whether this station fits the definition of a ‘satellite station’ and traffic count for that site. Prior to the LUBA appeal, the Washington County Planning Department and a Hearings Officer conducted comprehensive analysis and review, and ultimately determined that TVF&R’s development application met the code.

TVF&R Public Information Officer Karen Eubanks states, “We now find ourselves in the middle of two land use arenas at odds with their interpretation of the code and some work needs to be done to clarify the code for the purposes of our project. We are excited to participate in that process.” The District sees a code amendment as a critical step in helping guide future land use decisions, not only as it relates to its own fire station construction, but also other public buildings that serve the community like libraries and police stations. In addition to pursuing a code amendment, the District also plans to appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals. A code amendment and appeal are expected to take at least six months.

Until Washington County reinstates its approval for construction, work at the site may not be undertaken. In the past month, the District had removed an existing home from the property and began some grading and excavating work. The site will be secured until a land use decision is rendered.

The rebuild of Fire Station 68 was identified in TVF&R’s 2006 Bond Measure, approved by 68.9% of voters. After an extensive search for property that was properly zoned, adequately-sized, financially feasible, and had good access for emergency response, the site was selected. As a regional provider of fire protection and emergency medical services, Station 68 plays a critical part in serving not only the local neighborhood but the northwest corner of TVF&R’s service area.

To learn more about the project and the rest of our bond projects, click here.

Workers Install Historic Bell at West Linn’s Bolton Station 58

Brian Barker — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:22:55 +0000

100 years after it sounded its first alarm, the historic West Linn fire bell has been installed at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue’s new Bolton Fire Station 58. The bell, cast in the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland in 1910, has been refurbished after hanging on every fire station in the Bolton Neighborhood.

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the new fire station, which will be ready for move-in next month. Firefighters at the Bolton Station are excited to move into the new space. Although the old fire station is historic, its structure does not meet current ADA, seismic, or a variety of District standards. The apparatus bays are too small and lack the overhead clearance and depth required to house standard District apparatus. The current location results in delayed response times as crews must circle the block to access Highway 43.

The new station will have space to store more critical fire apparatus, improve response time to emergencies and include a community room that will be available for local non-profit organizations to use at no charge.

TVF&R’s Bolton Station firefighters will host an open house after they move into the station. The event will include a ceremonial ringing of the bell.

Progress Station 53 is Open

Brian Barker — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:12:08 +0000

Today is move-in day at TVF&R’s Progress Station 53. Firefighters from Engine 53 are responding to emergencies from the new building today and will spend their first night there tonight. During the past week, crews have been packing up equipment and belongings at the temporary fire station, located just down the street at Whitford Middle School. A moving company is helping to make the move happen.

Station 53 is located in the Progress area near the Washington Square Mall. In addition to responding to the District’s largest commercial development, this station serves well-established neighborhoods in eastern Washington County, is “first-in” on a significant volume of motor vehicle accidents on Highway 217 and is home to one half of TVF&R’s Hazardous Materials Team. The District made the decision to replace the old station because it was too small for modern day fire apparatus and did not meet current seismic standards for fire stations.

The project is one of several funded by a $77 million general obligation bond for capital improvements approved by voters in November of 2006. To learn more about all of our projects, click here.

While their new station was under construction, Station 53’s firefighters and paramedics worked out of temporary quarters at Whitford Middle School. This nearby location meant the community saw no change in response times.

In the next few months, Station 53 will be home to a 4 person fire engine company, a two person medic unit and a battalion chief.

Once everyone is moved in and the dust settles, TVF&R will host an open house at the station so the community can tour the building and meet the firefighters who call the Progress Station home.

TVF&R’s Latest Tool Just One of Many in Toolbox

Brian Barker — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:41:00 +0000

On May 7th, TVF&R added a new tool to its toolbox – a Car with one paramedic. The four Cars (Toyota FJ Cruisers) are expected to assist the District with responding in a cost-effective manner to non life-threatening situations that don’t require an engine with multiple Firefighter EMTs/Paramedics and a full cache of tools. The Cars are strategically based at fire stations in Aloha, Beaverton, Tigard, and Wilsonville and deployed Tuesday through Friday, from 7 am – 5 pm. The stations and schedule were chosen after analyzing years of incident data.

It’s been busy month for the Cars. TVF&R responds to over 30,000 incidents each year. Over 80 percent of those incidents are medical calls. Last week in their first four days in service, the Cars were deployed to 41 incidents that included 15 false fire alarms, nine non injury motor vehicle crashes, and several smoke investigations, lock-outs, falls, sick persons, and smoke detector problems. During that same time frame, TVF&R’s engines, trucks, and medic units responded to 256 calls including 56 cardiac and breathing problems, 22 strokes and seizures, 10 fires, 35 unconscious/unresponsive persons; and 10 motor vehicle crashes with injury.

As a full-service organization, TVF&R responds to all 9-1-1 calls. Assistant Chief Dustin Morrow states, “Depending on the severity of the situation, we now have the option of strategically responding with an engine, truck, medic unit, or car.” Morrow added, “We believe this strategic deployment makes good financial sense, both for the taxpayer as we utilize limited resources, and our ability to sustain our operation in the future.”

Each Car is outfitted with necessary equipment and supplies, a cardiac monitor, and a computer with response maps and current information on every 9-1-1 call. Although most situations responded to will be non-emergency, the Car can be upgraded to respond more quickly (Code 3) — or the paramedic can call for more units — if a situation worsens. Almost 100,000 incidents were analyzed to identify situations appropriate for a Car and single responder.

In addition to acting as a ‘relief valve’ for the growing number of non life-threatening incidents to which Firefighters are called to, the 4WD Cars provide the District with another tool to navigate congested streets and icy roadways, and access off-road emergencies.

The four FJ Cruisers are 2007 and 2008 models and were purchased from local dealerships via a public bid process. The purchase was made possible due to a capital improvement bond that was approved by almost 70% of voters in 2006.

Adds Morrow, “While the Car is expected to play an important role, we know that fires, serious medical incidents, crashes, rescues, and hazardous material situations are still going to occur and when they do, our public expects us to respond with enough tools and personnel to get the job done – and therein lies the strength of our engine and truck companies.”

Introducing Our Newest Response Vehicle: the Car

Brian Barker — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:29:36 +0000

The right resource, right staffing, right call.

TVF&R responds to over 30,000 incidents a year. Approximately 80% of those calls are medical emergencies and requests for public assistance. To respond to situations that are not life- or property-threatening, TVF&R has a strategic tool – the CAR.

The CAR—with one paramedic—is a cost-effective option for responding to situations that don’t require a traditional fire engine and four-person crew. In addition, these 4-wheel drive units are better able to navigate congested streets and icy roadways, and access off-road emergencies. The CAR is outfitted with basic equipment and supplies, and a data terminal with computerized response maps and instantaneous information on every 9-1-1 call. The CARs will be strategically based at specific fire stations, and deployed to work 4/10-hr shifts, after analyzing years of incident data to pinpoint exactly where and when these types of calls typically occur.

Approximately 100,000 incidents were analyzed to identify situations appropriate for a Car and single responder. The Car responds to non life-threatening medical and public service calls such as abdominal pain, ground level falls, headaches, odor investigations, sick persons, fire alarms, and smoke detector problems. Although the majority of situations responded to by the Car will be non emergency, the Car can be upgraded to respond more quickly – or the paramedic can call for more units – if a situation worsens.

While the vehicle we arrive in may look different, what hasn’t changed is the committed and professional TVF&R paramedic inside! We are proud to serve you with the right resource and right staffing when you call.

See our new Cars in action in the video below:

To learn more about our Cars, click here.

Crews Install Historic Bell at Station 59

Brian Barker — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:47:30 +0000

The Willamette Station (Station 59) is one step closer to completion after crews installed a historic fire bell that has been part of West Linn history for more than 60 years. According to former West Linn fire volunteers, the 700 pound steel alloy bell was used before World War II in the original Willamette District building as a way to summon firefighters to the station during calls for service. The bell lived on in front of the former Station 59, which was built in the 1950s.

During construction of the new station, TVF&R shipped the bell to a company on the East Coast where it was refurbished. Crews used a crane to hang the bell on the new building. The bell includes an electronic ringing device so TVF&R can ring the bell during special occasions.

TVF&R expects to begin moving the crew from Station 59′s temporary location into the new building in early March.

Station 59 is Nearly Finished

Brian Barker — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:14:05 +0000

Logistics and communications professionals from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue are hard at work inside Station 59 in West Linn after making one of their final walk-throughs with the building’s contractor this week. CSI Construction has reached substantial completion of the building and TVF&R is now putting the finishing touches on the building’s interior. Landscapers have finished their work on the station’s exterior as well.

The building’s community room, located 0n the bottom floor next to the apparatus bays, has its own separate entrance on the east side and will be a gathering point members of the community who contact the fire district and rent the space.

Station 59, also known as the Willamette Station, has the usual fire station accoutrements including kitchen, day room, exercise facility and bunks for the firefighters who will live here during their 24 hour shifts.

Sometime next month workers will help Station 59′s crew, which has been working out of a house just behind the new station, will begin moving into the new building.

Major Progress at New Fire Stations

Brian Barker — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:15:38 +0000

Crews work near the back entrance to Station 59

Station 59's kitchen is nearly complete

2010 is an exciting year for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue as workers put the finishing touches on three fire stations across the fire district.

Residents of West Linn are seeing the rebuilding of two fire stations, Station 58 and Station 59. Station 59, also known as the Willamette Station, will be finished first. Workers are busy inside Station 59, installing lighting, plumbing and phone lines. TVF&R expects to move into the station on time in mid-February.

Crews demolished TVF&R’s old station 59 to make way for a new station last year. The two-story brick structure did not meet current seismic, design, or ADA requirements. The facility was also significantly undersized for the standard District apparatus, and did not accommodate the Water Rescue craft and tow vehicle.

Station 58 is framed. The roof comes next.

North of Station 59, the Bolton Station is taking shape as well. Crews moved several homes next to the old Station 58 to make way for the new building. Workers have finished framing the building and are preparing to put the roof on the station. TVF&R expects to move in to Station 58 this April.

Station 53 is now water-tight and crews are working on the interior.

Finally, the Progress Station is framed and roofed. While their new station near Washington Square Mall is under construction, Station 53’s firefighters and paramedics are working out of temporary quarters at Whitford Middle School. This nearby location means the community will has seen no change in response times. TVF&R expects to move into Station 53 in late March.

In November 2006, 68.6% of voters approved a $77.5 million general obligation bond for capital improvements. The projects funded by this bond are occurring throughout our entire service area and are expected to improve and maintain our response to emergency incidents.

To learn more about our capital improvement projects, visit our website at http://www.tvfr.com/aboutus/bond/Default.aspx.

Willamette Station Gets Bricks

Brian Barker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:13:11 +0000

The Willamette Station’s exterior brickwork is complete and people driving by can now get a good preview of what Station 59 will look like when finished.

Station 59, located at 1860 Willamette Falls Drive in West Linn, is scheduled to be completed next spring.

Now that the roof and windows have sealed the building’s interior from the elements, crews are making progress inside the station. They’ve already completed much of the tile-work in the station’s locker rooms and are preparing to lay the floor in the building’s two large apparatus bays.

To learn more about our capital improvement projects, visit our website at http://www.tvfr.com/aboutus/bond/Default.aspx.

New Progress Station Takes Shape

Brian Barker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:13 +0000

Station 53, one of TVF&R’s three fire stations under construction right now, is beginning to take shape. Crews are framing the building’s roof and people driving or walking by are getting a good idea of how the station will look when it’s finished.

The old station was demolished to make way for the new one, but its concrete walls and foundation found new life as fill for the new Bolton Fire Station in West Linn.

The project is one of several funded by a $77 million general obligation bond for capital improvements approved by voters in November of 2006. To learn more about all of our projects, click here.
While their new station is under construction, Station 53’s firefighters and paramedics are working out of temporary quarters at Whitford Middle School. This nearby location means the community will see no change in response times. TVF&R appreciates the willingness of the Beaverton School District to make the space available.

To learn more about Station 53 and to follow its progress, click here.