December 2019 Published by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal

Those Who Serve their Professions Last month I had the honor of attending the annual conference of the Oregon Fire District Directors Association in Seaside, on a beautiful fall day. The organization, which works to improve the operations of fire districts in Oregon, elected its new board as part of its annual meeting, and I had the privilege of swearing in those new members. These volunteers step forward to lead and serve their organization. As board members, they oversee budgets, set strategy, set policy, and ensure the group supports its members' interest. Collectively as a group, these volunteers play an important role supporting the Oregon fire service. They deserve more credit than they are often given for improving the well-being of their professional group and our communities. In October, I also was privileged to swear in the incoming officers of the Oregon Fire Service Office Administrators (OFSOA) at the group’s annual Fall Conference held in Tigard. Any leader will readily share that they can never do it alone, and that a strong team behind them helps them succeed and lead. The OFSOA is committed to the fire service by increasing the capacity of key staff that helps all of our agencies serve our residents.  It has also been a privilege to work with the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Fire Marshals Association, and Oregon Volunteer Fire Association boards and seeing the great work and commitment they have for these organizations. Attending events like these conferences and conducting the swearing-in ceremonies for the dedicated professionals and volunteers remain one of my greatest pleasures as State Fire Marshal. Speaking of volunteers, for the past nine months, more than 100 Oregonians volunteered countless hours as members and contributors to the Governor's Wildfire Response Council. Leaders and participants from forestry, agriculture, and conservation interests contributed their time. The council also worked with tribal groups, members of the Oregon fire service, Oregon communities, health specialists, academic experts, insurers, power utilities, and others. All contributed to the council’s 110-page final report submitted last month to Gov. Kate Brown.   Those who supported this statewide effort and who lead our professional organizations receive no monetary rewards for their time and expertise. They serve because they believe in the vision, goals, and mission of their organizations and share a passion for fire prevention, fire safety, and the state’s best interest. The frequently used saying that “we are what we repeatedly do” is embodied through the many examples of service from all of these Oregonians, who I am honored to work alongside of.   To the state’s professional groups who are committed year-round to their profession and to our residents who support the collective efforts to address the new wildfire reality impacting our communities statewide, thanks for all you do.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker

The Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System Responds to California’s Fall Wildfires

By the morning of Oct. 26, the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, California had consumed more than 30 square miles and destroyed an estimated 77 structures in just over 48 hours.  Oregon Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple received the first call from California Office of Emergency Services around 10 a.m., asking what resources Oregon might be able to provide.   The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reached out to the Fire Defense Board Chiefs around the state to ask what each could mobilize to California through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). By the time the official request for 15 strike teams was received around 5 p.m. that night, the Agency Operations Center had already identified 20 available strike teams.    The following morning, 264 members from 68 Oregon fire agencies mobilized in 92 apparatus on their way to the incident. These resources made up 15 strike teams of engines, along with two Agency Representatives, Chief Ruiz-Temple and Chief Les Hallman from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Not long after mobilizing, Chief Ruiz-Temple and six strike teams were diverted to an emerging fire (the Burris Fire) in Mendocino County.   By Oct. 30, the Burris Fire was controlled to the point where all Oregon resources continued their original mission to the Kincade Fire. That incident had led to evacuation notices impacting more than 180,000 residents and had grown to 77,800 acres.  Demobilization and return to the state began on Nov. 2, with all resources either on their way home or moved to a third fire — the Ranch Fire in Tehama County — by Nov. 4. Seven Oregon strike teams and Chief Ruiz-Temple responded to the Ranch Fire. On the evening of Nov. 9, a full 14 days after the initial notification from California, all Oregon resources were back in service at their home agencies.   This latest response, like the four EMAC missions to California in 2017 and 2018, is a testament to the strength of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). The OSFM was prepared to facilitate a request, the Fire Defense Board Chiefs were prepared to determine resource availability, and the fire service was prepared to respond out of state for an indeterminate amount of time into an area with no power. The fire service was further prepared to submit the required paperwork in a timely fashion to implement the EMAC system.   At all levels, the OFMAS operated quickly and efficiently to respond in a time of need. The OSFM wants to thank all parties involved in the response: from cities and boards allowing their personnel to participate, to the individual firefighting personnel who put their lives on hold to help our neighbors. The more opportunities we have to exercise the OFMAS in Oregon and through the EMAC, the stronger we become.

Tips for a Safe Holiday Season

In Oregon, the arrival of cold weather and holiday activities in December can offer a new opportunity to keep your family fire safe.  To ensure you have a joyful and memorable holiday, consider these steps: Before the season begins, test the operation of your home’s smoke alarms. Choose a fresh, healthy holiday tree with a deep-green color and flexible needles.  Water your tree daily — a tree may consume between a quart and a gallon of water per day. Make sure you have three feet between your holiday tree and any heating source.  Ensure the tree is not blocking an exit, and that the decorations you use are flame resistant and flame retardant. Use only non‐combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.   Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.  Maintain your holiday lights; inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, and broken or cracked sockets. Do not overload electrical sockets. Do not link more than three light strands, unless the manufacturer’s instructions indicate it is safe. The Office of State Fire Marshal wishes you and your families a safe and happy holiday!

Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board

The Office of State Fire Marshal is announcing the establishment of the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board. The establishment of this board provides a formal process, along with timelines, to identify emerging fire and life safety issues and to make recommendations to the State Fire Marshal. The board will include members who broadly represent industries, associations, and professions involved in of the development and implementation of the Oregon Fire Code and Oregon Structural Code, which will allow for a thorough code examination process. The Office of State Fire Marshal has filed proposed rules for the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board and will hold a rulemaking hearing on Dec. 19, at 1 p.m., at the Office of State Fire Marshal in Salem. Find information on the rulemaking here . The Office of State Fire Marshal is now accepting applications for the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board. Please submit your applications by 5 p.m., Jan. 15. Members will serve a three-year term, with an opportunity to serve two consecutive appointments. Board members will be invited to an orientation in February. The first official board meeting will take place in March. This board will meet quarterly or as needed. Application requirements are included in the draft rules text. To apply for the board, return a completed application to the Office of State Fire Marshal using the interest form. The form and information on the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board are available online . Key Dates: Rulemaking hearing, Dec. 19 Last day for public comment, Dec. 23 Interest application deadline, Jan. 15 Selection and notification period, Jan. 16 – Feb. 15 For questions and comments on the proposed rules and the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board, please contact Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins, at chad.hawkins@osp.oregon.gov .

Meet Deputy State Fire Marshal Shannon Miller

Where do you work/how long have you been in your position?  In 2013 I moved to Oregon to take a position as Deputy State Fire Marshal with the Office of State Fire Marshal. I work out of the Oregon State Police Office in McMinnville, with phenomenal troopers and staff, but I am usually in the field with the fire service within the Lincoln, Polk, and Yamhill counties.   Tell us about your background before you became a Deputy State Fire Marshal (DSFM). I was born in La Grande, Oregon, but I grew up in Las Vegas. I joined the U.S. Coast Guard, where firefighting with team tactics of working together to solve problems quickly became my career path. I volunteered for the Key Largo Fire Department. I also worked for Ocean Reef Public Safety as a firefighter and as a diver for Florida’s John Pennekamp State Park. I returned to Las Vegas to obtain a degree in fire science with emphasis on wildland fire, and worked for the Bureau of Land Management as a firefighter and for American Medical Response. I achieved the NFPA and ICC fire inspector certifications and then joined the Las Vegas Clark County Fire Department as a fire inspector. A promotional opportunity with the OSFM brought me to Oregon, and I still work for Las Vegas Motor Speedway with NASCAR and the track’s fire safety team — the best of both worlds, working with astounding people. What makes you most proud of being a DSFM?  I am most proud of partnering with the fire service and local law enforcement, supporting communities statewide and making things better than they were before. The fire service and the DSFMs have a responsibility to help the public through inspections to keep the public safe. The other responsibility we have is to study and learn from tragic fires to do our best for prevention and accountability.   What is the most rewarding part of your job? I enjoy identifying and analyzing the cause of fires with the fire service, using the skills I learned through education and experience for use on fire inspections to help prevent fires, along with partnering with law enforcement when a fire is criminally ignited. Every day I learn something new, overcome challenges, share these experiences, and collaborate with others. Fire inspections/prevention, fire suppression, and fire investigation require a team effort. What would you like the public to know about your job?  The DSFMs are here to help the community, working together with the public and the local fire departments and districts to progress forward by preventing the preventable tragedies. Along with OSFM’s priorities for vulnerable population occupancies, I work with local fire marshals and the state to improve the codes and standards for a safer place with our visiting public. I also partner with the state and local fire service on inspections of facilities with hazardous materials to ensure community safety and an equitable process for businesses. Looking back on 2019, what was your most successful activity in your assigned district that had the most impact in protecting the lives of Oregonians or preventing fires in Oregon?  Our partnerships with local law enforcement and the fire service successfully removed dangers from the public. This involved inspections, investigations (wildland and structure), plans review, and the court process.

RHMERT Celebrates 30 Years of Service to Oregon

The year 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Teams (RHMERT) program. The Oregon Legislature approved the program in 1989. Oregon is considered the first state to organize and coordinate a statewide hazardous materials (HazMat) response program through a collaborative partnership between the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), local public safety response agencies, and the petrochemical transport industry. For three decades, the program has protected life, property, and the environment by responding to chemical emergencies and minimizing the dangers associated with them. Currently, 13 teams are strategically positioned across Oregon to respond to petrochemical spills or releases. The teams are staffed by highly trained HazMat technicians who complete 160 hours of initial training, followed by ongoing specialized training on both current and emerging HazMat threats facing Oregon.  Having grown to more than 270 HazMat technicians, the 13 regional teams’ successes have been built on trust, pride, professionalism, competence, passion, and a commitment to serve Oregon. Since 1989, these teams have developed innovative methods of responding to petrochemical highway incidents, as well as supporting response partners at biological, radiological, and explosive incidents. The teams also provide outreach training to local responders and industry to ensure communities are prepared to respond to a hazardous materials incident and create safer communities. These HazMat technicians continue to innovate, with new capabilities, new technology, and ideas for the future. For 2020, the program will continue its focus on replacing emergency response vehicles, threat detection equipment, and technical safety equipment. To promote awareness of the RHMERT program and ensure our emergency services partners remain aware of this critical statewide resource, the OSFM developed three posters. The messages reinforce key incident conditions when a HazMat team should be called and how to request them. Local Agencies Participating:

Code Corner

By OSFM Code Deputy David Mills  Use of Indoor Portable Space Heaters

As winter approaches and temperatures drop, businesses may be faced with the question of whether to permit employees the use of indoor portable space heaters in the colder areas of their workplace. These heaters are often defined as “a self-contained appliance, usually electric, for heating an enclosed room or area .” The 2019 Oregon Fire Code (OFC), Section 604.10, provides regulations surrounding the limited use of such devices for supplemental heat, as many devices operate at high temperatures and improper use of the heater creates a fire risk. The OFC states: “Only listed and labeled portable, electric space heaters shall be used. ” Using only tested, listed, and labeled portable, electric space heaters provides both the consumer and the fire code official with an increased level of confidence that the heater has been thoroughly and carefully examined by an independent agency concerned with public safety. “Portable, electric space heaters shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle ” and " … shall not be plugged into extension cords .” Because of the amount of current required for an electric space heater, its listing will limit the length of the power supply cord provided with the unit to prevent overheating of the conductors. Using an extension cord or other temporary wiring device defeats the purpose of the limited-length cord and can lead to conductor overheating or damage to the heater itself. The heater’s power supply cord should be kept away from high traffic areas to prevent the cord from being damaged or tripped over. Power supply cords should also not be run under rugs or furniture where they could be walked on or have heavy objects set on them. This could cause a damaged cord to overheat and cause a fire. “ Portable, electric space heaters shall not be operated within 3 feet of any combustible materials. Portable, electric space heaters shall be operated only in locations for which they are listed .” Because portable electric space heaters have hot and arcing or sparking parts inside of them, adequate clearance from combustible materials must be maintained to avoid ignition of the combustibles. Reduced clearances to combustibles may be permitted by the manufacture when the device has been tested and listed. A new provision to the 2019 OFC recognizes the need to limit the heating elements to not exceed a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit and such heaters shall only be used in non-sleeping staff and employee areas: “ Where used in Groups I and R-4 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities, portable, electric space heaters shall be limited to those having a heating element that cannot exceed a temperature of 212°F (100°C) , and such heaters shall only be used in nonsleeping staff and employee areas.” These occupancies have a higher life hazard risk resulting in longer evacuation times. In areas of designated for non-sleeping staff and employees, portable heaters with certain temperature limiting requirements can be used. Limiting portable heater placement and temperature will reduce the incidence of fire from these devices. These provisions also correlate the code with federal regulations for these facilities. Always inspect the heater and power cord for broken or damaged parts. Never operate a heater with obvious or suspected damage. The heater should always be turned off any time the room or area being heated is unoccupied, especially at the end of the workday.

Data Connection

News from the Analytics & Intelligence Unit By Analytics & Intelligence Program Coordinator Kayla Brookshire

NFIRS Reporting Deadline

As we near the end of year, the Analytics & Intelligence unit will be sending out letters and emails regarding the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) reporting deadline and agencies' NFIRS compliance status. Please aim to have all 2019 incidents submitted to the state ImageTrend system by Jan. 1, 2020. The absolute deadline to submit 2019 NFIRS incidents is Jan. 15, 2020. The data will be analyzed to determine the picture of the Oregon fire problem, published in the Annual Report Supplement, submitted to the national database, and used to guide education and prevention programs. Time is of the essence in understanding the Oregon fire problem, and it is therefore essential to adhere to the requirement in ORS 476.220, which stipulates that agencies must send reports to the state within seven days of the fire. If your agency has any questions regarding their NFIRS compliance status, please reach out to the Analytics & Intelligence team at (503) 934-8250 or by email at OSFMDATA@osp.oregon.gov.

Look for a New Communication Format from Analytics & Intelligence in 2020

Beginning in 2020, the Analytics & Intelligence Unit will be transitioning from the Gated Wye articles to quarterly training bulletins to most effectively reach our stakeholders. The training bulletins will be sent by mail, and they will include information on how to code various situations in NFIRS reports, provide updates regarding reporting policy changes including plus one code updates, share statistics, and bring attention to issues pertinent to data quality. Updates will also continue to be provided on the unit’s Yammer page: “ Data Connection Updates from Analytics & Intelligence.” Please contact the Analytics & Intelligence team at (503) 934-8250 or by email at OSFMDATA@osp.oregon.gov if you need an invitation to the Yammer web page. Photo credits: Deadline, Nick Youngson/Alpha Stock Images, and 2 020, pngmig.comare lic ensed under CC BY 3.0 US, CC BY 4.0 US.

OSFM Task Force Leader Symposium

Office of State Fire Marshal Incident Management Teams

2020 Season Open Recruitment All applications due by 5 p.m., Jan. 6 The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is seeking applications for the following positions: Incident Safety Officer Public Information Officers & Trainees  Division/Group Supervisor Trainees Resource Unit Leader Trainees Communication Unit Leader Trainees Communication Unit Technician Trainees Applications for all positions will be accepted and reviewed.  Applicants who do not meet the qualification criteria will not be accepted. All applicants are asked to submit: Application signed by your Chief Officer Letter of Intent to include a summary of conflagration and incident management experience Two professional references The recruitment process is selective. Applicants, their provided references, and/or others within the applicant’s agency may be contacted by OSFM staff, Incident Commanders, and/or IMT Section Chiefs during the selection process. Applicants should be expected to be interviewed. Please send completed applications and materials listed above to mariah.rawlins@osp.oregon.gov . Team members are expected to be available to respond during their team’s on-call rotations and remain at an incident for up to 14 days. Team members should be prepared to be logistically self-sufficient for 72 hours. Team members should have the full support of their sponsoring fire agencies to participate in training, Section Working Groups, and the annual conference. Team members should have access to an agency command vehicle for deployments. It is the expectation of OSFM and the Incident Commanders that all team members provide the highest level of customer service to all involved with or impacted by an incident. Team members represent both their home agency and the State of Oregon, and are expected to act professionally at all times.

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