November 2018
Message from the Chief, Fred Charlton
Thank you to our community for the outpouring of support for Clackamas Fire District #1's annual Operation Santa program. This year, we celebrate our 44th year collecting food and toys for those in need across the communities we proudly serve. Our annual parades kicked-off on Nov. 24 and will last until Dec. 9. Last year, a record amount of food and toys was collected from community parades, business partners, schools, cities, and other community partners to include 57,000 pounds of food and 8,300 toys. This helped us support over 400 families in need. This year our goal is to break that record, as we see the need continue to increase. Your support is truly making a difference to those in need…
2018 has been a busy year for the Fire District from spending general obligation bond funds on constructing a new Fleet and Logistics facility and building new community fire stations in Oregon City and in the community of Damascus. We continue to hire and train outstanding new employees and volunteer personnel, respond to a record number of calls for help, provide services to our strategic partners, and execute the goals and objectives within our Strategic Business Plan. 
2019 is sure to bring new challenges and opportunities as we continue to focus on our mission – "To Safely Protect and Preserve Life and Property."
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation Receives Donation for Smoke Alarms
In honor of October's Fire Prevention Month, ADT presented the Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation with a $5,000 check on Oct. 24 as recognition to firefighters who responded to a residential fire in Happy Valley the previous month before. Due to working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, ADT, and the quick response from Clackamas Fire, the homeowner was able to put the fire out and exit their home safely.

To read the full article from the Clackamas Review, click HERE.
Message from the Board of Directors
The Board approved the following at the November 19, 2018, Board of Directors’ meeting:
  • Christina Day as Budget Officer for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
  • Resolution 18-04: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Full Faith and Credit Financing Agreement in a Principal Amount Not to Exceed $10,000,000; Designating an Authorized Representative and Special Counsel; and Related Matters.
 
At the October board meeting, the Board tabled the discussion regarding the request from Estacada Fire District #69 to extend the current intergovernmental agreement (IGA) regarding services that are provided between Estacada Fire and Clackamas Fire District. Further discussion took place at the November board meeting. The Board chose to keep the January 31, 2019 deadline regarding the termination of the IGA unless the Estacada Fire District’s Board voted to conduct a complete Feasibility Study. 

The next board meeting will be Monday, December 17, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the Mt. Scott Fire Station 5 located at 9339 SE Causey Avenue, Happy Valley, Oregon.
Safety/Public Education
Health and Safety
Wearable Heart Rate Trackers: Which Works Best?
How accurate are the latest wearable heart rate trackers? That is an important question amid the flourishing demand for wearable fitness devices and wrist-worn heart rate monitors. Did your heart rate tracker make the list? View full article.
Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation
Emergency Management
2018 National Climate Assessment
The 4 th annual Climate Assessment was released the day after Thanksgiving this year. This nearly 1,700 page report paints a grim picture of the impacts weather trends are having on the environment. Many experts disagree as to the cause of the current weather trends; however, most are in agreement that are more frequent and more devastating weather-related disasters.
Increasing occurrence and severity of weather-related disasters should serve as a strong reminder to all of us to: Be informed, build a kit, and have a family plan!
Click HERE for a link to the study.
Fire Investigations
October 2018
Date:  10/1/2018 5:44:22 PM
Address: 19995 S Fischers Mill Rd. Oregon City, OR 97045
Investigator(s): Hamilton
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Vehicle storage area; garage, carport
Fire Cause:  Cause undetermined after investigation
Estimated Dollar Loss: $35,000
Investigator Narrative: After a thorough, systematic investigation, which included interviews with the tenants, homeowner, and witnesses, layering the existing fire debris to look for a competent ignition source, and after studying all present and existing fire patterns, I concluded the area of origin of the fire was in the garage. The point of origin was in the Southwest corner of the garage. The cause of the fire is undetermined, due to a lack of any competent ignition sources present.
Date:  10/2/2018 3:26:17 PM
Address: 12855 SE 97th Ave. Clackamas, OR 97086
Investigator(s): Olson
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Exterior stairway, ramp, or fire escape
Fire Cause:  Unintentional
Estimated Dollar Loss: $5,000
Investigator Narrative: The classification of the fire was accidental. The cause of the fire was undetermined, due to the lack of evidence in finding the ignition source. Based on my experience, training, and education, the most likely cause of the fire was the result of a poorly discarded, smoldering object. Based on the time of day, the poorly discarded, smoldering object could have been placed in the area of origin earlier that day. 
Date:  10/8/2018 9:56:41 AM
Address: 19155 S 99e Hwy. Oregon City, OR 97045
Investigator(s): Olson
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Vacant structural area
Fire Cause:  Cause undetermined after investigation
Estimated Dollar Loss: $20,000
Investigator Narrative: The exact origin of the fire was not identified, due to the heavy fire damage and unsafe conditions. The fire cause was undetermined due to unsafe conditions. 
Date:  10/15/2018 12:13:54 AM
Address: 25060 SE Sunshine Valley Rd. Damascus, OR 97089
Investigator(s): Hamilton
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Entrance way, lobby
Fire Cause:  Cause undetermined after investigation
Estimated Dollar Loss: $12,500
Investigator Narrative: After a thorough, systematic investigation, which included interviews with the property owner and neighbor who was, also, the reporting party, layering the existing fire debris to look for a competent ignition source, and after studying all present and existing fire patterns, I concluded the area of origin of the fire was in the Southwest corner of the structure. The point of origin was undetermined. The cause of the fire was undetermined, due to a lack of any competent ignition sources present.
Date:  10/16/2018 10:23:18 AM
Address: 10420 SE Walnut Dr. Happy Valley, OR 97086
Investigator(s): DeLair
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Outside area, other
Fire Cause:  Unintentional
Estimated Dollar Loss: $1,500
Investigator Narrative: I took photos and started moving the bark dust around the sprinkler system covers. The bark dust was still hot to the touch and smoldering, after the fire crews put many gallons of water on it. I uncovered coiled up wiring from the sprinkler system. The wiring insulation was melted off, and the wiring showed signs of mechanical damage. There were no signs of electrical failure. The weather was sunny and breezy, there had been no lightning strikes, the homeowners stated no one in the house smoked, and there were no signs of electrical failure. The homeowner stated there had been a fire in the same place about five years prior, but they didn't know what caused it. It was possible that the wiring that was coiled up under the bark dust was over current creating excess heat. I was unable to determine the item first ignited and the sequence of ignition. This fire was classified as undetermined.
Date:  10/17/2018 1:07:50 AM
Address: 5821 SE Jennings Ave. Milwaukie, OR 97267
Investigator(s): Olson
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Vehicle storage area; garage, carport
Fire Cause:  Cause undetermined after investigation
Estimated Dollar Loss: $170,000
Investigator Narrative: There was no competent ignition source identified during the layering of the fire debris. Based on witness statements, reading of fire patterns, weather conditions, and potential human interaction, it was possible that this fire started by means of a spontaneous chemical reaction from the oil soaked rag or T-shirt .
Date:  10/18/2018 1:09:11 AM
Address: 14368 SE Christopher Ct. Milwaukie, OR 97222
Investigator(s): Stenhouse
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Bedroom - < 5 persons; included are jail or prison
Fire Cause:  Cause undetermined after investigation
Estimated Dollar Loss: $55,000
Investigator Narrative: The fire originated within the master bedroom of a manufactured double-wide home. It spread to excessive combustibles within the room and extended into other living areas. Fortunately, all the occupants escaped without injury. No working smoke alarms were found within the home. Without additional information from the room occupant, the fire remains undetermined at this time.
Date:  10/28/2018 1:40:53 AM
Address: 6922 SE Clatsop St. Portland, OR 97206
Investigator(s): Olson
Type of Fire: Building Fire
Fire Area of Origin: Common room, den, family room, living room, lounge
Fire Cause:  Unintentional
Estimated Dollar Loss: $230,000
Investigator Narrative: This fire was classified as undetermined. Witness statements informed me there hadn’t been any issues with neighbors or anyone in the area recently. Occupant was, typically, home by them self and rarely came out. There were a couple hypothesis on what may have started this fire. One, lightweight combustibles were located on or near the wood burning stove, while the stove was in use. Or an electrical failure inside the living room sparked the fire. 
Station Activities
For a more detailed list of Incident Types, which doesn't include mutual aid, by FMZ for October, click HERE. The above graphic notes the toal calls for service, including mutual aid.
Clackamas Fire District #1 | 503.742.2600 | www.clackamasfire.com