TVF&R Blog

Tanker Carrying Liquid Oxygen Suffers Flash Fire

eubanksk — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:27:13 +0000

At 5:29 pm, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was called to a tanker incident on Interstate 5, just south of Elligsen Road. Engine 52 from Wilsonville arrived to find a tanker parked on the freeway shoulder that had suffered a flash fire when the main valve to its rear tank failed. The tanker was carrying liquid oxygen at the time of the fire. It is estimated that the flash fire and subsequent explosion, caused approximately 700 gallons of liquid oxygen to be released into the atmosphere. The fire was contained to the rear unit of the tanker and self-extinguished. TVF&R’s Hazardous Materials Team was also called to the scene to assist in ensuring the stability of the tanker. There remains a small amount of liquid oxygen in the tanker which will be off-loaded after the tanker is towed to the company’s site.

The danger of liquid oxygen is that it greatly magnifies any ignition source that it comes into contact with (open flame, electrical spark, etc.). TVF&R credits the driver for immediately pulling off the freeway so as to minimize risk to other motorists.

TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team Responds to Weekend Incidents; Issues Safety Tips

eubanksk — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:56:57 +0000

TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team assisted in two rescues over the weekend. The first incident occurred late Friday night when the team rescued an adult male adrift on the upper Willamette River above the falls with no paddles and unable to get to shore. The second incident involved three people who were rescued Saturday afternoon after their inflatable raft capsized in the rapids. The victims, who were wearing life jackets, were able to swim to a nearby island and call 9-1-1.

With hot temperatures expected to continue throughout the week, TVF&R reminds those planning to be on local rivers and lakes to use extreme caution. TVF&R Public Information Officer Karen Eubanks states, “A big concern this early in the year is boaters or swimmers ending up in the water for an extended length of time.” The temperature of local rivers is currently only about 50 degrees and loss of body heat (hypothermia) can affect your nervous system and your muscles, making it difficult to swim or stay afloat. In addition, a sudden, plunge into cold water may trigger an involuntary ‘gasp response’ drawing water into the lungs.

Safety Tips from TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team

Never swim alone and always supervise children.
Young children should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket (pillow and handle-type); Adults should have or wear an approved life jacket when boating or fishing. A life jacket keeps your head above water and can help conserve body heat by floating, rather than swimming.
Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Know your swimming limits and keep an eye on weaker swimmers. Take frequent breaks.
Be aware of currents, changing waves, and undertows.
Don’t dive in shallow water or in unfamiliar areas.
Have a cell phone in case of an emergency.
If you end up in the water, hang on to your boat. This will help keep your head above water and may help conserve body heat if you can pull yourself partially out of the water.

If You See or Hear Someone in Trouble

Call 911 immediately – time is of the essence.
Try to throw the victim a flotation device, but don’t become a victim yourself.
Use landmarks to determine where you last saw the victim and where you are standing so you can take rescue crews back to the site.
Take notice of the victim’s clothing.
Encourage other bystanders to stay on scene.

Tualatin Firefighters Help Secure AED Donations for Tualatin Police

Brian Barker — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:42:11 +0000

TVF&R Paramedic Patrick Fale and Tualatin Police Lt. Greg Pickering stand next to Dan Brabeck from Air Products and John Golightly from Novellus.

Tualatin just got a little bit safer thanks to some hard work by firefighters from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and generous donations made by Tualatin businesses Air Products and Novellus. The two companies have donated enough money to buy Automated External Defibrillators for two of Tualatin’s police cars.

“These donations will save a life,” says Tualatin Police Chief Kent Barker, “now all 5 of our police cars on the road during the day will have an AED on board.”

The idea for the donation came during a medical call when a crew from TVF&R’s Tualatin station realized that only 3 of Tualatin’s 5 daytime police cruisers came equipped with an AED. TVF&R firefighter Patrick Fale and his crew at TVF&R Fire Station 34 in Tualatin began brainstorming about which businesses may be able to contribute money to purchase AEDs. TVF&R Captain Steve Boughey suggested they approach Air Products and Novellus because the two businesses have been open to working with firefighters on Hazardous Materials Training. The two companies agreed and each donated $1,500.

Police often arrive at cardiac arrest calls and begin cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before TVF&R’s specially trained firefighter paramedics get to the scene with their cardiac medications and other medical equipment. Police and firefighters work as a team to give the patient his or her best chance of survival.

“Tualatin Police have always been very proactive when it comes to administering CPR to someone whose heart has stopped beating,” says TVF&R Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Fale. “CPR keeps a person’s blood flowing, and police were already saving lives. But the AED is the tool that can restore a normal heartbeat. If all of the police officers have AEDs as well as CPR training, we really will give cardiac arrest patients a much better chance at survival. We’re thrilled that Air Products and Novellus have made this important donation.”

“The opportunity presented itself to contribute back to the Tualatin community, and Novellus was excited to help,” says Novellus manager John Golightly. “The Tualatin community has been great to work with and be a part of, and this is one way we felt we could help the entire community.”

“We are very proud to assist in the Tualatin Police Department’s continuous improvement efforts,” says Air Products Territory Manager Dan Brabeck. “The TPD serves our community with distinction, and Air Products is excited at the chance to support their efforts to protect and serve Tualatin. ”

The survival rate for cardiac arrest patients is bleak; the national average for patients who live to be discharged from a hospital is only about 5 percent. However, over the past several years, the survival rate for patients with a witnessed cardiac arrest in Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s service area has exceeded the national rate, ranging from 11 percent to 23 percent.

To learn more about AEDs, CPR, cardiac arrest and more, visit our website at tvfr.com.

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Trains Alongside National Guard Troops

ulvenc — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:07:25 +0000

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue is hosting the National Guard at its Training Center located at 12400 SW Tonquin Road in Sherwood. The National Guard is conducting a statewide exercise to test its response to a large-scale disaster and the ability for local, regional and national responders to integrate. The scenario at the TVF&R Training Center depicts a hospital that has collapsed as a result of a tornado. Responders are contending with rescues, recovery and victim decontamination from exposure to medical isotopes and other hazardous materials often present at a medical facility.

The exercise has proven a valuable opportunity for TVF&R’s Incident Management Teams to conduct multiple twelve-hour shifts and plan for incidents that would severely strain and overwhelm local resources.

Official Cause of Fire at Beaverton Construction Site Undetermined

Brian Barker — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:36:28 +0000

Just before midnight on May 1, firefighters responded to reports from several drivers near the intersection of Murray and Jenkins that a building at the 45 Central construction site was on fire. (The site is located across the street from the NIKE World Campus.)

Within four minutes of being dispatched, first-arriving firefighters from nearby Station 61 were met with heavy flames engulfing one of four town homes. The homes were in the initial phase of construction, with only framing and exterior walls completed and no roofing. None of the utilities were installed in the homes which were going to serve as the display models for the development that will ultimately feature 122 three-story town homes. The project is being managed by Homes at 45 Central.

Firefighters had the fire under control within 15 minutes and there were no injuries. Though most of the fire damage occurred to two structures, all four sustained heat exposure and the damage is estimated at $80,000.

After thorough examination of material evidence and burn patterns, fire investigators were unable to determine what caused the fire and they have closed their case. Detectives from Beaverton Police Department will contine their investigation. The developer demolished all four units and has already started rebuilding the site.

Mountain Road Station 57 Open House is This Saturday

Brian Barker — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:08:22 +0000

The firefighters from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s Mountain Road Fire Station 57 are excited to invite you to their Open House this Saturday, April 28th from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. The station, located at 24242 Mountain Road, serves the Stafford Triangle, Pete’s Mountain, West Linn and Wilsonville.

During the Open House, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the men and women who respond to emergencies in the area, tour the fire station, learn about fire safety and practice Hands Only CPR. The American Heart Association promotes Hands Only CPR as a way anyone can save a life. When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, according to the American Heart Association, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the AHA has simplified things.

During the Open House, mannequins will be available and firefighters will be on hadn to help visitors learn and practice Hands Only CPR.

If you can’t make it to the event, you can visit the American Heart Association’s web-page for quick tips about what you need to know.

Elligsen Road Fire Station Torn Down, Making Way for New Station 56/South Operating Center

Brian Barker — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:12:12 +0000

April 11, 2012

April 13, 2012

April 17, 2012

Crews have demolished the old TVF&R Elligsen Road Fire Station 56 to make way for TVF&R’s new South Operating Center. Built in 1979, this building was formerly the headquarters of the Tualatin Rural Fire District. While the location works great from a response perspective, the current facility has major structural and design deficiencies, is undersized for today’s staffing and equipment needs, and has no facilities for female firefighters. Seismic concerns are significant and remodeling the building is cost-prohibitive based upon the building’s construction.

The new facility will be home to Fire Station 56 as well as the South Operations Center. The Center manages the emergency operations for TVF&R fire stations 34, 52, 56, 57, 58, and 59 and the code enforcement, investigation, prevention and preparedness programs for the area served by these stations.

During construction firefighters have been moved off-site to a temporary fire station consisting of a manufactured home and two Quonset Huts located just blocks away on Sun Place. The temporary station will house the engine and truck, allowing Station 56 to continue serving Wilsonville and the surrounding area, with similar response times.

The project is funded by a November 2006 $77.5 million general obligation bond for capital improvements approved by 68.6% of voters. 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 over the next 50 years.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Approximately 60 Local Landlords Attend Unique Training Session

eubanksk — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:32:03 +0000

: A participant practices his fire extinguisher skills at TVF&R’s Training Center

In the past decade, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) has responded to almost 1,000 apartment fires in which 18 tenants have died, 50 tenants have been injured, and over 500 tenants displaced. In an effort to reduce the incidence and severity of these devastating fires, TVF&R implemented its Landlord Fire & Life Safety Training program. This program offer quarterly training and free on-site educational resources for landlords and owners of multi-family communities. To date, approximately 600 landlords, property owners and staff, and fire service personnel have been trained.

On Tuesday, approximately 60 local landlords attended TVF&Râ€™s Landlord Fire & Life Safety Training.Â In addition to classroom instruction on how quickly fire spreads, common fire causes, the fire inspection process, and identifying juvenile firesetting, attendeesÂ had the chance to discharge a fire extinguisher on an actual fire from 1â€“1:30 pm. Â The training took place at TVF&Râ€™s Training Center located at 12400 SW Tonquin Road in Sherwood.Â

For over a decade now, TVF&R has been working collaboratively with landlords and at-risk tenants to create a safer community through education. â€œOur research shows that landlords have a pivotal role in keeping tenants and their properties safer from fire, and it is our hope that this unique training will give them the confidence and tools they need to create safer living environments,â€ states KarenEubanks, Public Information Manager.Â In addition to the Landlord fire & Life Safety Training sessions, the District offers bi-lingual posters for laundry facilities and common areas, pictorial sheets, and a tabletop display highlighting the importance of smoke alarms for new tenant orientation. The research and materials produced for this program were underwritten by federal grants awarded to TVF&R, totaling almost $200,000.

In 2006, TVF&R received the prestigious International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Fire Service Award for Excellence for its work with landlords. This award recognizes a fire department’s innovations and achievements in managing resources to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies.

For more information, visit TVF&Râ€™s Apartment Fire & Life Safety Training on our website at www.tvfr.com.

TVF&R Looking for Volunteer Firefighters

Brian Barker — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:01:40 +0000

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue is looking for a few good men and women who are willing to donate their time and help serve their community as volunteer firefighters. This exciting opportunity gives members of the general public the chance to give back to their community by protecting their neighbors and helping to educate fellow citizens about fire and medical safety.

TVF&R has one of the largest and most active volunteer fire departments in the state. Volunteers help paid firefighters by staffing rehabilitation units at major incidents and cover fire stations when paid firefighters are assigned elsewhere. They participate in fire and EMS related drills year round and play an active role in the Districtâ€™s public education program.

TVF&R offers two facets to its volunteer program, the “Core” program and the “Auxiliary” program.

Core volunteers will be trained to respond to emergencies. They will attend a Firefighter I Academy, attain an EMT-Basic certification, participate in community events, public education, and attend weekly drills.

Auxiliary volunteers are NON-emergency response volunteers. They work as a part of our dedicated team of professionals. Auxiliary volunteers may work once or twice a week or even a few times each year, depending on their area of interest and commitment. Duties include community service and public education, participation in community events such as parades and other neighborhood events.

All volunteers must be 18 years old, be a high school graduate or have an equivalent certificate, possess a valid Oregon driverâ€™s license, pass a criminal background check and live within TVF&Râ€™s service area.

To learn more about the program, click here.

Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Beaverton Fire

Brian Barker — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:02:42 +0000

At 12:06 Monday morning, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was called to a house fire at 16075 NW Blueridge Drive in Beaverton. The residents reported to 9-1-1 that their laundry room was fully engulfed with fire and that windows in the home were beginning to explode.

First arriving crews found heavy smoke and a backside corner of the home heavily involved with fire. Crews confirmed that all residents had safely exited and began a transitional fire attack that included twenty-four (24) firefighters battling the fire on the exterior and interior of the home. Firefighters also opened up a portion of the roof to remove heat and smoke from the structure. Firefighters had the fire under control within 20 minutes of arriving on scene.

During the operation, firefighters were notified by the residents that there were compressed CO2 bottles stored in the home, which have the potential to explode if overheated. Caution was exercised and the fire did not compromise the bottles.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries and the fire’s cause is under investigation.