June 2018
Published by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal
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Volunteerism makes it happen
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ast month, I had the honor of helping the American Red Cross Cascades Region kickoff their Sound the Alarm campaign in the Portland area. Speaking to and meeting some of the hundreds of volunteers that had gathered that Saturday to help install 400 smoke alarms in the Portland area gave me time to reflect about communities and volunteerism.
Society is forever speeding forward, expanding, and in many ways increasing in complexity. As a result, people are busier than ever and their time is increasingly valuable. This is being proven all across the country as fire departments struggle to recruit and maintain their ranks of volunteer firefighters.
Even as Oregon struggles along with every other state, I have been witness recently into the many areas in the fire service and other public service agencies where our volunteerism is alive and well.
Over the past few months, as I have visited conferences, meetings, and other events, and reflecting on how these organizations can do what they do and be successful is largely dictated by the volunteers that serve them.
From the Oregon Fire District Directors Association, the Special Districts Association, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Fire Marshals Association, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association, Oregon Fire Service Office Administrators Association, the Oregon Fire Instructors Association, the Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council, to other organizations, volunteers are at the core.
There can be many reasons why someone volunteers, but that doesn’t change the fact that these people receive no compensation for the work they do. If all volunteers decided to end their service tomorrow, most of these organizations would struggle to continue the work they do, or might even cease to exist at all.
We owe a tremendous amount to the volunteers all over the state that give of themselves and commit time and energy for the benefit of others. It is through their service that things get done.
Volunteering can also serve to make the world feel less individualistic and improve our sense of community. I am inspired by the hundreds of volunteers I have met and encourage all of you to reach out with a hand of thanks to anyone you know who performs volunteer service because in ways you cannot see, and in ways you can, they have a positive impact on us all.
Thanks for all you do!
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Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker
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OSFM undergoes slight reorganization
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A
s stated in the OSFM strategic plan, our agency is committed to continually evaluating the effectiveness of our units and programs to provide the best service and products to our stakeholders and all Oregonians. As part of this commitment, we must continually evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of how we are organized to serve our customers. We also must continue to evaluate the workloads of our branches, units, and programs to ensure workloads are fair and equitable.
As a result, the OSFM has undergone a slight reorganization of our management structure. The following changes will allow immediate supervision of the Fire & Life Safety Branch by Greg Davis and create a new Regulatory Services Branch, supervised by Mark Johnston.
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Regulatory Services Branch
With the amount of programs and staff that fall under Regulatory Services, it makes sense to create a new branch and establish Mark Johnston as the supervisor. This will align the work that is being done in the branch and enhances direct communication of the political and legislative issues with our Administration Branch. This move will also relieve some of the heavy work load of Deputy Chief Michael Heffner as he continues to handle management responsibilities related to Emergency Operations (Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Teams & the Agency Operations Center), Hazmat by Rail Program, and the State Emergency Response Commission (emergency management). In addition, the OSFM will be adding a GIS position to Heffner's supervising responsibilities along with work on priority legislation.
“I think this is a very positive change that is the result of the OSFM continually looking for opportunities to improve internal communications and work flows to support our stakeholders and partners,” said Regulatory Services Manager Mark Johnston. “I am very grateful to Chief Walker and Chief Deputy Ruiz-Temple for this opportunity.”
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Fire and Life Safety Branch
Deputy State Fire Marshal Greg Davis will serve as the Interim Assistant Chief Deputy of Fire and Life Safety Services until the end of 2018. Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal duties will be handled by DSFM Casey Kump out of the La Grande office. The OSFM expects to permanently fill this position by early 2019.
“My focus is to keep our service levels at their best and find the most competent leader to fill the management role,” said Interim Fire and Life Safety Services Manager Greg Davis.
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Fireworks - roles of the locals and the OSFM
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regon Revised Statute 480.111-480.165 grants authority to specific entities to conduct certain activities. Under these statutes, the OSFM is mandated to issue licenses for the wholesale of fireworks, permits for retail sales of consumer fireworks, and for using fireworks in displays, the entertainment industry, and pest control (agricultural) purposes. The OSFM Regulatory Services Branch also provides information regarding fireworks statutes and rules, helps facilitate assistance from OSP when appropriate, provides guidance and information to local law enforcement agencies regarding seizure, storage, and pick up of fireworks, and it helps facilitate the disposal of seized fireworks.
The following fireworks statutes provide for local authorities to control fireworks in their communities:
- ORS 480.140 places the supervision of fireworks displays under the local fire and police agency or in unprotected areas, the county court.
- ORS 480.160 has provisions for local regulation of fireworks.
- OAR 837-012-0860 (9-11) requires displays to be postponed or discontinued by the local authority if there are adverse conditions, lack of crowd control, or significant weather conditions that affect safety recognized by the local fire or law enforcement authority.
- ORS 480.120(2) requires law enforcement agencies of the state, county, or municipality to enforce the provisions of ORS 480.111-480.165.
Below is a matrix that summarizes the roles of OSFM and local authorities relating to the retail sales of consumer fireworks, fireworks displays, and enforcement activities. You may also
download this guide
for printing or saving to your files.
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What does OSSC Appendix N mean to the fire service?
In recent months, representatives from the Office of State Fire Marshal, Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Fire Marshals Association, and the Building Codes Division (BCD) participated in a series of meetings to clarify roles, responsibilities, and application of Appendix N in new construction.
Appendix N is a document connected to the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) that incorporates many new construction provisions outlined within the International Fire Code for enforcement by the building official. It is important to note that Appendix N does not remove any new construction requirements from the state adopted Oregon Fire Code (OFC), but merely reprints specific new construction provisions for enforcement by the building official.
BCD’s Appendix N is specific to new construction provisions that BCD has determined is within their statutory authority. As such, there will be many new construction provisions that Appendix N does not regulate due to statutory authority controlled by OSFM. In those areas, the fire code official is to collaborate in the plan review and inspection of new building construction and can enforce the new construction provisions outlined in the OFC.
The OSSC and OFC work in concert to establish the regulatory scheme for new construction and the maintenance of buildings. Both OSFM and BCD have authority over certain distinct aspects of new construction that, when put together, make for a complete regulatory scheme.
Please review the attached
BCD/OSFM – Joint Letter
,
which describes tools for effective collaboration between fire and building officials.
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News from the OSFM Analytics & Intelligence Unit
by Program Coordinator Dave Gulledge
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Image Trend Elite transition
The transition of the state’s data repository from the Oregon Fire & EMS Bridge to Elite is now in full swing. This transition is a result of our software vendor, Image Trend, Inc., providing an upgrade to replace the Oregon Fire & EMS Bridge with Elite. The Elite system provides more advanced capabilities, increased user friendliness, better integration with various web browsers and mobile devices, and a new improved look and feel that is consistent across the many facets of the system.
What this means to local fire agencies is that if you have not already done so, you need to contact the Analytics & Intelligence Unit to begin transitioning your agency to the new Elite platform. Our goal is to have all Oregon fire agencies moved to Elite and off of the Oregon Fire & EMS Bridge as of January 1, 2019.
The two most asked questions about the transition are:
What happens to the data we have in the Oregon Fire & EMS Bridge?
All of your data can easily be migrated to the Elite platform and our Analytics & Intelligence Unit staff can assist you with this data migration.
Does my agency have to move to Elite?
If you are using the Oregon Fire & EMS Bridge, the answer is yes, you will have to migrate to the Elite by the end of this year. If your agency uses other reporting software, you do not need to do anything; this only affects agencies using the state system.
New Codes
The Oregon Incident Reporting Advisory Commission has approved new codes to use in Oregon that allow local agencies to document and track smoke alarm installations using an NFIRS report, just as they would for an incident response. Tracking smoke alarm installations through NFIRS is a function approved and encouraged by the U.S. Fire Administration. Although the new codes are specific to Oregon, they are in line with national standards.
The new codes are Incident Type 5532 - Smoke alarm installation, and Actions Taken 751 - Installation of smoke alarm(s).
Oregon Incident Reporting Advisory Commission Seeks Members
The Office of State Fire Marsha has established the Oregon Incident Reporting Advisory Commission. This commission will be a collaborative effort involving local fire service partners to improve incident response data collected from across the state. The purpose of the commission involves identifying issues related to incident reporting in Oregon, identifying methods or actions to improve data quality and consistency, and to develop recommendations to improve incident reporting in Oregon.
The commission consists of 15 members representing the various types of fire agencies in Oregon. The diversity represented includes rural districts and municipal departments, volunteer, combination, and career agencies, agencies that use the state reporting system, and those that do not. Members are selected and appointed to the commission by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
We are currently recruiting to fill vacant seats on this commission. With the approval of their home agency, any member of a local fire agency in Oregon whose responsibilities involve incident reporting may request an appointment to this commission. Preference will be given to individuals that have demonstrated proficiency with incident reporting. Please contact the OSFM Analytics & Intelligence Unit for more information or to request an appointment to the Oregon Incident Reporting Advisory Commission.
For questions or more information, please contact the Analytics & Intelligence Unit at 503-934-8250 or by email at
osfm.data@state.or.us
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Foam firefighting trailers
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S
ince the passing of HB 3225 in July 2015, Oregon has made great strides in enhancing the safe and effective emergency response to hazmat by rail incidents. This was proven with the efficient and coordinated response to the Mosier train derailment in 2016. From developing Hazmat Rail Emergency Response Plans and conducting tabletop exercises, to delivering Hazmat Emergency Response and Incident Command courses, Oregon is steadily building a workforce of highly trained and knowledgeable hazmat rail emergency planners and responders.
Along with those accomplishments, the OSFM placed in service eight foam firefighting trailers that have been provided voluntarily by Union Pacific and BNSF railroads. They were constructed to address the increased shipment of flammable liquids being transported by rail in Oregon, specifically Bakken Crude Oil. These tools are a resource to combat large flammable liquid spills or fires that may occur along rail routes. They may also be utilized on other local incidents requiring large quantities of foam, such as an over the highway incident or commercial structure fire.
The trailers are equipped with caches of alcohol resistant aqueous film-forming foam (AR-AFFF), of 250 or 1,200 gallons, depending on the trailer style and location. AR-AFFF will provide fire and vapor suppression for Class B, polar solvent, and hydrocarbon fuel fires. They can also be utilized to effectively combat Class A fires if necessary. These foam trailers are being housed by fire departments that have entered into an agreement with the OSFM.
The process for requesting these trailers is being coordinated through OERS via the OSFM duty officer, unless the foam trailer housing agency already has contact with the requesting agency through a cooperative dispatch center or mutual frequency. Five of the eight locations are with OSFM Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Teams. The equipment provided includes a flatbed trailer, generator, AR-AFF foam, nozzles, fold-a-tanks, ground monitors, and more.
They are housed at the following locations:
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Wildfire Awareness Month wrap-up
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M
ay and Wildfire Awareness Month has come to a close, but the need for prevention and mitigation efforts will need to continue into the early months of summer. The OSFM would like to thank our key partners, Keep Oregon Green, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon’s structural fire agencies for sharing the social media posts and engaging community members in taking early action to ensure that they are prepared for an active wildfire season.
As the summer forecasts come out, the efforts of Wildfire Awareness Month will need to continue in order for residents to stay on top of the defensible space they have begun to clear. Reminders and efforts to clean gutters and the immediate space around the home are not too late. Please encourage your local communities to use early June to catch up on their efforts.
Oregon’s residents should also be preparing and planning for what they would do in the event of a wildfire. The
Ready, Set, Go!
Program helps to outline the preparedness steps that local residents can take to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Use June to encourage participation in this program by using it in your newsletters, posting the key concepts on your reader board, or challenging your fire crews to spread the word on how to be “ready” with preparedness and understanding, be “set” with situational awareness when fire threatens, and to “go,” acting early when a fire starts.
Partnerships are critical and as we saw last fire season, no one can do this alone. Let’s keep Oregon safer from the dangers of fire. We’re in this together.
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Northwest wildfire outlook
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As of May 1, 2018, Oregon has had poor snowpack and less than average snow water equivalent. The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook also calls for persistent drought conditions in much of Oregon anticipated through July.
This all adds up to predictions of Normal significant wildland fire potential expected for the Northwest through June 2018, followed by Above Normal significant fire potential for south southeastern Washington and southern and north central Oregon for July. Above Normal significant large fire potential is expected east of the Cascade Crest in Oregon and Washington in August and also for extreme southwestern Oregon as well.
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A way to manage landscapes for health and safety
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by OSU Extension Forester Daniel Leavell (below, left) and
Corvallis Fire Division Chief Douglas Baily (below, right)
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ildfires are growing larger and more severe, fire seasons are starting earlier and ending later, resulting in catastrophic loss of homes, forests, and natural resources. The main causes of forest stress are drought and overstocking, with increased insect and disease outbreaks as a result.
Human-caused wildland fires are now more frequent than lightning-caused (84% now vs just the opposite historically). Ecological, social, and economic damage is occurring at a faster, more intense rate due to high severity wildland fires and forest health issues. Ecologically, the size and scale of high severity fire has departed from historic patterns affecting water, wildlife habitat, stream function, large and old tree structure, and soil integrity.
Socially, wildfires are affecting communities across the West. The 2017 fire season illustrated the risk of wildfire to communities large and small. Similar to wildfires burning in forests spreading from tree crown to tree crown, subdivisions in urban areas are also at risk from this type of fire behavior. Economically, wildfires burn valuable infrastructure, timber, make recreation and tourism unappealing, and can have direct impacts to municipal water supplies. The Eagle Creek Fire last year brought that to the forefront.
In 2009, the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (National Strategy) was developed as a strategic push to work collaboratively among all stakeholders and across all landscapes, using best science principles, to make meaningful progress towards three goals:
1) Resilient landscapes
2) Fire-adapted communities
3) Safe and effective wildfire response.
This strategy establishes a national vision for wildland fire management, defines three national goals, describes wildland fire challenges, identifies opportunities to reduce wildfire risks and fire severity, and establishes national priorities focused on achieving the national goals.
The Oregon State University College of Forestry Extension proposes three outcomes that if achieved can assist the State of Oregon to address fire as a health and safety concern – as a science – and as a management tool.
The first outcome is to create fire-adapted infrastructure, communities, and landscapes across the state of through awareness, education, and outreach, using our 100+ year established network of Extension Offices. Our (OSU) county-based extension agents and campus-based specialists have been making a difference in the fields of forestry and natural resources. We would like to add fire science and management to that expertise. An example is the newly published Fire Science Core Curriculum now available on-line at:
https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9172
.
This curriculum has five modules:
- What is Fire?
- Fire Ecology
- Fire Behavior
- Fire Management
- Fire Prevention for Home and Landscape
These are designed for general community members, landowners, property owners, beginning fire professionals, and agencies providing structural fire protection in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
The second outcome is to enhance our existing support to landscape-scale land management planning for private landowners and public land managers by promoting a systematic effort leading directly to implementation of projects on the ground. Examples are two landscape management efforts ongoing in Klamath and Lake County. Developed by the Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership (
https://www.klfhp.org/
), mapping, planning, and implementation efforts address forest health, fuels reduction, wildlife habitat, and safe and efficient fire response.
The third outcome is to develop research results and designed to assist fire managers in making response decisions, particularly affecting the defensible space and safe and efficient fire response to homes, subdivisions, and landscapes in high-risk areas.
We can learn much from last season’s fires in California. To inform science and fire behavior modeling and to prevent this from happening elsewhere, it is important to understand the state of fuel arrangement, dispersal, and accumulation in a 1,000-home subdivision; and the effect extreme weather (wind, heat, humidity) has under those conditions.
The OSU College of Forestry is in a unique position to initiate research on building construction and fire response related to fire behavior on a landscape scale, emphasizing communities with dense populations where flammable homes and vegetation intermingle. Information to guide fire response in safe and efficient ways should also be collected and synthesized.
These recommendations have been prepared for the 2019 State Legislative session for approval. If approved, we are ready to implement. We would like to solicit the support of the Oregon Fire Service in our effort to better serve residents and visitors to our state.
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Record applications for
HMEP grants
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ach year, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) makes grant funding available to states and territories, which is used to enhance hazardous materials emergency response by supporting planning and training activities.
Oregon receives about $250,000 in funding annually to support these projects and typically receives about the same amount in funding requests from Oregon LEPCs and local first responders. This year, the OSFM experienced a record year and received more than $561,000 in grant requests from local applicants, more than double an average year.
While delays at the federal level have prevented Oregon from receiving official notification of awards and the amount of those awards, the State Emergency Response Commission Executive Committee established a review committee and developed a priority list of all requests received. LEPC projects were given top priority and requests from other entities were scored as a lower priority.
If you have submitted a request for funding for the HMEP 18/19 grant cycle you will be notified of the results once Oregon has received official award notification and the amount of that award from PHMSA. If you have any questions, contact Terry Wolfe at
terry.wolfe@state.or.us
or 503-934-8245.
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Smoke Alarm Installation Program training
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he Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Smoke Alarm Installation Program (SAIP) provides smoke alarms to Oregon fire agencies to install in residences that are unprotected.
Due to changes with the program, training is required for all agencies who choose to participate. If you would like to participate in the program and you did
not complete training in 2017 or 2018
, please see the below information and links for available training dates.
The OSFM is offering free one-hour webinar trainings on the SAIP.
Topics include:
- Project planning and ideas
- Smoke alarms and installation
- Safety materials
- Program eligibility, changes, and requirements
Please note the below training opportunities are the last being offered in 2018.
Upcoming webinars:
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Smoke & CO Alarm Law requirements when selling or renting a home
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he OSFM is offering free training on
Oregon Smoke & CO Alarm Law Requirements When Selling or Renting a Home
. Real estate agents will receive one continuing education hour in Real Estate Consumer Protection. If you would like to register for training, click on the appropriate link for the day you want and complete the registration form.
Upcoming training
:
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L
ast month, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association handed out their annual awards during a luncheon in Redmond, Oregon. A big thank you to Stephanie Watson from the OFCA for supplying the photos and award descriptions.
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Medal of Honor
Clackamas Fire District #1 Firefighters Matt Towner and Scott Kohler:
For an act of extreme courage saving a 62-year-old woman from a residential fire.
Pictured: (left to right) Clackamas Fire Chief Fred Charlton, Captain Kyle Olson (accepting on behalf of Scott Kohler), Firefighter Matt Towner, Emcee and OFCA Past President Les Hallman.
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Awards of Excellence
(left to right)
Harbor Rural Fire Protection District Chief John Brazil
for his leadership, common sense, community relations, and sense of urgency during the Chetco Bar Fire in Curry County;
Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Larry Medina
for instituting a program that ensures building and fire inspections are conducted concurrently;
Clackamas Fire District #1 Deputy Fire Marshal Valere Liljefelt
(pictured accepting for Liljefelt is Deputy Chief Doug Whitely) for development of a fire inspection program that is a model for its scope and achievement.
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Distinguished Conduct
In response to the Eagle Creek Fire, this group acted quickly, and in the middle of the fire storm, to assume great risk in the defense of lives and property.
Pictured (left to right):
Safety Officer Darren Bucich
(McKenzie Fire & Rescue),
Operations Section Chief Rich Labelle
(Scio Fire),
Deputy Operations Chief Scott Stutzman
(Hillsboro Fire Department),
Assistant Safety Officer Tom Williams
(Portland Fire & Rescue),
Incident Commander Ian Yocum
(TVF&R), and
Deputy Incident Commander Lance Lighty
(Eugene Springfield Fire).
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Distinguished Conduct
For a high-angle rescue performed at the walking bridge at the Peter Skene Ogden Wayside to rescue an injured base jumper.
Pictured (not in the order listed):
Captain Bill Welch, Firefighter/Paramedic Jon Powell (Firefighter/Paramedic Dan Broyles was not available for the photo)
(Redmond Fire & Rescue)
Lieutenant Frank Day, Firefighter Jeff Scheetz, Assistant Chiefs Mark Wilson and Sean Hartley
(Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue)
Captain Mark Johnson, Volunteer Firefighter Lieutenant Heidi Hagman, Volunteer Firefighters Scott Pollard and Logan Lachenmeier
(Jefferson County Fire District #1)
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Distinguished Conduct
For response to a motorcycle accident with two confirmed trauma patients.
Pictured is
Eugene Springfield Fire Engineer/Paramedic Matt S. Reger
who accepted the award on behalf of his fellow crewmates
Captain/Paramedic Derek Thorstenson, Firefighter Paramedic Anthony Quesada
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DSFM Sullivan completes leadership and ethics program
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ith hard work and perseverance, Deputy State Fire Marshal Kevin Sullivan successfully completed the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute program (IPSLEI) on May 31
st
at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
The IPSLEI program consists of four modules designed to lead the student on a learning journey about exercising leadership.
Through a variety of learning methodologies, the leadership development course covers written case studies, video case analysis, and interactive learning processes.
Each module is more than 40 hours of facilitated learning and eight hours of practicum.
The class met two days every other week over the last four months.
The four program modules are:
- Developing a Personal Philosophy of Leadership and Ethics
- Leadership
- Organizational Leadership
- Ethics and the Challenge of Leadership
IPSLEI was developed to bring the concepts of leadership and ethics to the forefront of an individual’s career, rather than waiting until a person is promoted into a supervisory position.
The program is based on the belief that one need not be a supervisor or manager to understand leadership principles and
contribute to the leadership process. A cornerstone of the program is that effective leadership skills and influences are needed at all levels of the organization and graduates of the program will become the future leaders of public safety entities in Oregon.
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The May 2018 graduating class consisted of 20 public safety employees from throughout Oregon.
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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