January 2020 Published by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal

Looking Ahead to 2020 As we turn the page on 2019 and head into the New Year, the Office of State Fire Marshal remains committed to serving all Oregonians and representing the Oregon fire service at the highest level. Our number one priority will continue to be focused on reducing the number of fires, preventing fire-related deaths and injuries, and educating more Oregonians on how to reduce community risks. As most of you are aware, I believe if an agency focuses on strong communications and partnerships, they will be successful. Partnerships will remain central to our core services in 2020, and we will continue supporting the fire service by promoting fire prevention education and awareness in the wildland urban interface (WUI), focusing on defensible space, hardening homes, and helping residents prepare themselves and neighbors for wildfire evacuations. Although there are too many accomplishments to list, I did want to recognize a few. Our Fire and Life Safety Education Division collaborated successfully with the American Red Cross Cascades Region in 2019 to promote the importance of installing smoke alarms and home fire escape planning. That successful partnership resumes in 2020 through Red Cross’s Sound the Alarm campaign.   Compliance staff with our Community Right to Know program visited more than 900 facilities in 2019, more than double the number in 2018 because of our improved online hazardous material reporting and dissemination program. The program, which provides a database of more than 13,000 facilities that store hazardous substances in Oregon, will continue to collaborate and work with industry to ensure compliance with reporting rules in 2020. With support from the Legislature, the Petroleum Load Fee was increased in 2019 to stabilize funding to improve our Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team program. Investments in new protective suits, threat detection equipment, and emergency response vehicles are being made now. The program celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, with 13 locally staffed response teams statewide. It remains a model partnership between the fire service, the OSFM, and the petrochemical industry to protect the public, communities, and the environment from hazardous materials. Our Fire and Life Safety Division also had a busy 2019, serving vulnerable populations with 190 healthcare surveys. Our deputy state fire marshals conducted 2,508 inspections of schools, correctional facilities, and other facilities statewide. For 2020, we are expanding our technical services unit, increasing our capacity for plan reviews for healthcare facilities and above-ground storage containers.  The year 2019 started by a proclamation from Gov. Kate Brown creating the Council on Wildfire Response. "Oregon's firefighting approach leads the nation in effectiveness,” said Brown. “However, wildfire dynamics are changing and it is never too soon to evaluate the approach to wildfire education, prevention, suppression, attack, and community recovery." The council’s final report issued last month recommended actions and additional staff to help reduce risk in the fire-prone WUI. This includes a proposal for the OSFM to add risk-reduction specialists statewide. We will continue to represent the fire service in any discussion when the Legislature convenes next month and considers the council’s more than 100 recommendations.  As the New Year progresses, look for the OSFM’s updates on our fire and life safety efforts, collaborations with the fire service and partners, and news from the Capitol. Thank you all for your outstanding work that remains a national model of premier public safety service.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker

OFMAS 2020: A Year of Vision

The October deployment of 264 members of the Oregon fire service to assist in California was a testament to the strength of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). Our system relies on preparation and participation at all levels: local, regional, and statewide. With resources out the door within 12 hours of initial contact by our Agency Operations Center, that deployment showed that the OFMAS is strong and functional. The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has a vision for 2020 for the OFMAS: one of expansion and modernization. We are leaning forward to keep the momentum that has been building over the last several years. OSFM intends to expand the OFMAS by: Continuing to focus on the expansion of local and regional mutual aid,   Working with Fire Defense Board Chiefs and individual agencies to help them become part of the system, Producing new materials, (including the graphic above), and conducting outreach to help our partners understand the OFMAS as it stands today. OSFM is working to modernize the OFMAS by:  Examining the feasibility of providing a statewide common operating picture, to include risk mapping and incident response capabilities, Looking for technology solutions to improve how resources are ordered and allocated at the local, regional, and statewide levels, Actively seeking input from the fire service to make the system stronger. Work done by the Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response will be leveraged to aid in the OSFM’s efforts to strengthen the system for the safety of the fire service, all Oregonians, and visitors to our state.  The overarching goal for OSFM’s Mobilization Unit in 2020 is to strengthen the OFMAS at all levels. Expect updates throughout the year in the Gated Wye on ways the OSFM will be expanding and modernizing the OFMAS in 2020. Thank you for being a part of the system.

HMEP Grants now Accepted

The grant application period for the FFY 20/21 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grant is now open. The period will run through Tuesday, March 31, at 5 p.m. This will be for the performance period of October 2020 through September 2021. Each year, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ( PHMSA) makes funding available to states and territories in the form of a grant, which is utilized to enhance hazardous materials emergency response by supporting planning and training activities.  Oregon receives approximately $250,000 in annual funding to support local projects. The following link will take you to the application packet on the Office of State Fire Marshal website, found under the “Happening Now” box. Oregon Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and emergency planning and response agencies are encouraged to apply. To learn more about the HMEP Grant Program, guidance on eligible planning and training expenditures, and other grant specifics, visit the PHMSA website .   If you have questions about the grant, or the application process, contact Terry Wolfe at terry.wolfe@osp.oregon.gov or (503) 934-8245.

Meet Deputy State Fire Marshal Sean Condon

Where do you work/how long have you been in your position? I am currently assigned to District 3 (Marion County), working at our new office outside of Dallas. In my role, I also lead our agency’s Healthcare Unit. I began this position in July 2016. I first joined the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) in February 2012. I was first assigned to District 6 at our North Bend office, moving to Salem in October 2012 as one of two Deputy State Fire Marshals assigned to the Healthcare Unit, covering all of Oregon. Tell us about your background before you became a Deputy State Fire Marshal (DSFM).  I grew up in Oregon, in Dallas and Portland, and attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem. I began my career in engineering for a local municipal government, starting as an intern in 1991 and later serving as supervisor for the same engineering department. Following in my father’s footsteps, I volunteered for Dallas Fire & EMS as a firefighter in the summer of 1996, becoming an EMT-basic in 1998. I continue to volunteer for Dallas Fire & EMS today. In 2007, I changed careers and was hired as the fire inspector for Dallas Fire & EMS. Seeking to join a larger team, I joined the OSFM in February 2012. What makes you most proud of being a DSFM? I am proud to work with amazing DSFMs, who all work towards a common goal. With the Healthcare Unit, I was proud to be the voice for individuals in healthcare facilities who don’t have one because of their dependence upon others to provide them a fire-safe living environment.  What is the most rewarding part of your job? I appreciate the “thank you” that I get from the fire chiefs within my district. When I can collaborate with them and we can work with business owners, school officials, city staff, building officials, or the general public, and we all can mutually determine what makes the building more fire safe than how it was found, then it is a win for all involved, and I have accomplished my job! What would you like the public to know about your job? We are not citation writers. We are educators and solution finders. Not every situation is the same, but we strive for consistency and compassion in each situation. I work on fire inspections, fire investigations, access and water supply plan reviews, and code consultation. Each one is designed to have fire safety in the forefront to help educate, prevent, and minimize damage that could occur if there is a fire event. 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? I am proud to have provided a consistent resource to the fire jurisdictions within Marion County (District 3). As the DSFM in Marion County, I also strive to be a trusted partner that chiefs can call upon when they need help.

Joint Policy Bulletin on Motor Vehicle Dismantlers

A new joint policy bulletin has been published for the Oregon fire service, providing guidance in administrating annual fire inspections at licensed motor vehicle dismantler facilities. The policy — prepared by the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, and Oregon Fire Marshals Association — outlines fire and life safety regulations found in the Oregon Fire Code. Learn more about these changes, from the state legislation passed in 2019, on the OSFM website.

Code Corner

By OSFM Code Deputy David Mills  Clarifying Proper Smoke Alarm Placement

Today’s home furnishings are considerably more flammable than those of decades ago. With only a few minutes to escape a burning home, proper placement of smoke alarms becomes an important factor. When installed improperly, such as too close to kitchen appliances or bathrooms, these alarms become a nuisance, falsely identifying a fire. For decades, manufacturers have provided recommendations for proper placement of their tested alarms, and at times, these recommendations have varied. Two new sections to the 2019 Oregon Fire Code (OFC) provide designers, installers, and authorities having jurisdictions (AHJs) with standardized criteria for locating smoke alarms in relation to cooking appliances and bathrooms. Installation near cooking appliances. Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required by OFC Section 907.2.10.1 or 907.2.10.2: Ionization smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 20 feet (6,096 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance. Ionization smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch shall not be installed less than 10 feet (3,048 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance. Photoelectric smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 6 feet (1,829 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance. Installation near bathrooms. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet (914 mm) horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by OFC Section 907.2.10.1 or 907.2.10.2. Recent breakthroughs in research and technology have brought us to a point where the next generation of smoke alarms will be able to discern between smoke from routine cooking and smoke generated by a serious fire. Homes built to earlier standards often may not meet these minimum requirements. Homeowners and AHJs should recognize that detection needs have changed over the years and take proactive steps to make sure that placement is correct and that homes have a sufficient complement of smoke alarms.

IMT Applications Due by Jan. 6

Applicants have until Jan. 6 to submit their applications to the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to join the agency’s Incident Management Teams 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 Applicants who do not meet the qualification criteria will not be accepted. You can also learn more on the OSFM website. Please send completed applications and materials listed above to mariah.rawlins@osp.oregon.gov .

Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition Publishes 2020 Schedule

Nominations Accepted for Meritorious Service Awards

The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA) has opened nominations for the 2020 Meritorious Awards. Act now to nominate a colleague for an outstanding meritorious achievement or service in 2019. The nomination categories are: Medal of Honor, Medal of Valor, Award of Excellence, Distinguished Conduct, and Unit Citation. Visit the Meritorious Awards page for full details.   Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 31. Submit your nominations to Inanna Hencke at inanna@wfca.com.   The selected award recipients will be recognized at OFCA's Spring Conference Awards Luncheon on April 30, at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Oregon. OFCA is pleased to organize the only statewide forum for agencies and individuals to recognize and pay tribute to members of the Oregon Fire Service for their acts of courage, heroism, and dedication to their profession.

Fire Service Appreciation Day

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 25. The measure designated every Jan. 27 as Fire Service Appreciation Day in Oregon. Fire Service Appreciation Day annually provides the opportunity to honor the men and women who unselfishly serve their communities and who strive to maintain the highest level of skill and professionalism. The Office of State Fire Marshal wants to thank all of you for your dedication, compassion, professionalism, and personal sacrifice to help keep all Oregonians safe where they live, work, recreate, seek medical care, and go to school.

OSFM Welcomes New Staff

New OSFM staff (from left): Russ Hoskins, Laura Chaffey, Connie Biggs, and Kim Carlson

Connie Biggs Training & Development Specialist 1 – Fire Prevention Programs Fire & Life Safety Education (FLSE) Biggs moved to Oregon from the Washington Coast with her husband in 2016. Biggs had worked and volunteered for her local fire district for 14 years. For the last seven years there, Biggs served as coordinator for her department’s community education division, which grew out of her safety training work with the community on child passenger safety, bicycle/pedestrian safety, disaster preparedness, and senior fall prevention. Biggs focused on fire and life safety training in addition to becoming a volunteer EMT and wildland firefighter. Prior to joining the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) in September 2019, she worked for the Oregon Health Authority. Said Biggs: “I’m happy to have found my way back into a fire safety program and grateful that it’s in a new capacity, so that I can continue to learn and grow.” Biggs and her husband continue to travel to Washington every month, visiting their adult sons and daughter-in-law, and checking in on their property. Kim Carlson; Program Assistant Community Right to Know (CR2K) Program The OSFM is happy to welcome Kim Carlson to the team. Carlson comes from Anchorage, Alaska, where she previously worked for the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS), with the Alaska State Troopers. Carlson worked for the agency’s IT section providing computer support for nearly eight years. Prior to joining the DPS, she worked seven years in IT with a nonprofit medical clinic. She started her position as program assistant for the CR2K program in September 2019. Carlson volunteers with Oregon School for the Deaf, helping with set construction and decorating for the Nightmare Factory haunted house. This construction and design work runs all year. Carlson also volunteers as an actor during the Halloween season. She is currently learning American Sign Language from the deaf community, with whom she volunteers. Laura Chaffey Training & Development Specialist 1 – Youth Fire Safety Fire & Life Safety Education (FLSE) Chaffey joined the OSFM in September 2019 as the youth fire safety trainer, bringing years of teaching and training experience. Chaffey has worked as an English teacher in public and private schools and as a CPR instructor/instructor trainer for the American Red Cross. Her experience includes curriculum design, teacher mentorship, train the trainer, business partnerships, grant writer, program coordinator, academic program evaluation, distance learning, and developing criteria to assess learning standards and objectives. Chaffey graduated from Western Oregon State College with a BS degree in education. She knew that teaching could influence the lives of others in her community and she hopes this passion can have a larger impact through her role here at OSFM. Chaffey’s favorite quote is by Anne Frank: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” “I am most excited to continue OSFM’s mission to protect Oregon’s vulnerable populations, especially children,” said Chaffey. “I am looking forward to creating curriculum and resources for prevention and intervention. I am eager to work with fire agencies and community partners as a unified approach in fire prevention. It’s my goal to reduce risks of youth fire injury and death.” An avid reader, Chaffey enjoys writing short stories and dreams of finishing her novel. She is the mother of two adult children and has one granddaughter. She enjoys cooking and loves the outdoors, especially long walks with her Airedale, Willoughby. Russ Hoskins Research Analyst II, Community Education Fire & Life Safety Education (FLSE) Hoskins has been with the Analytics & Intelligence Unit since August 2019, working as a research analyst II, for Fire & Life Safety Education. Previously, he worked for the Oregon State Police as a policy analyst on the Law Enforcement Data System’s 20/20 Project. After serving as a fire protection specialist in the U.S. Air Force in the late 1980s, Hoskins worked as a 9-1-1 call taker and dispatch center manager for seven years. After moving to the West Coast, he served as a police dispatcher for five years in southern California. For the next 13 years, he worked as a software trainer for a leading public safety software company headquartered in San Diego. He was the company’s primary trainer for statistical reporting using Crystal Reports. Additionally, he worked as a quality assurance manager for a 9-1-1 District in Tennessee, which included responsibilities as the audio records custodian. Hoskins resides in Salem and has one son who lives in Ohio.

Coming Soon: 2020 Emergency Response Guidebooks

The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a 2020 update to its Emergency Response Guidebook. The guidebooks are updated every four years and are in demand by first responders and emergency planners upon their release. The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has placed an order for more than 40,000 copies of the latest edition. PHMSA advises they will be shipped in mid-2020. Once they arrive in Oregon, the OSFM will develop a plan to distribute these essential guides for responding to transportation incidents involving hazardous materials. Stay tuned to the Gated Wye and the OSFM’s website and social media feeds for updates.

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