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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2016)
vernonia rural fi re protection district december15 2016 19 Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District Firefi ghters Struck and Killed by Passing Vehicles By Robert Schattschneider Wow! What a headline! But, from August 13, 2006 to August 5, 2008, that’s exactly what happened in the State of Oregon, nine times. Fortunately for Vernonia, this has not been a reality; not yet anyway. I cannot stress enough the im- portance of “defensive driving.” Defen- sive driving goes much further than just driving your vehicle in a manner that protects you from the actions of other drivers. It also involves driving your ve- hicle in a manner that protects you from yourself! What? Yes, I’m talking about you. In a two-year period, nine fi re- fi ghters were struck and killed on Or- egon roadways by drivers just like you and me. Drivers just like you and me, on a mission to travel to our planned desti- nation, so intent on conquering the task, that we fail to recognize and compre- hend the obvious danger just ahead. For some reason, drivers just do not connect the dots. When they ap- proach those fl ashing lights, and it just doesn’t seem to matter whether they are fl ashing yellow, red, white, blue, or any combination of the four, slowing down to determine what the danger is, and then reacting appropriately, just doesn’t hap- pen. We have had some close calls. In recent months, we have had fi refi ght- ers and emergency vehicles narrowly missed by vehicles that are approaching from the rear, front, and passing the area where the emergency exists. Anytime our emergency vehi- cles are parked on or near the edge of the roadway, we will have emergency personnel out fl agging approaching traf- fi c. Please slow down to a speed that will allow you to safely stop your vehicle if instructed to do so by one of our fi rst re- sponders or a law enforcement offi cer. While passing an emergency vehicle that is parked in or near a lane of traffi c, al- low plenty of room and do so at a greatly reduced speed. Here is what Oregon law has said: 811.147 Failure to maintain safe distance from emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance (1) As used in this section, roadside as- sistance vehicle means a vehicle with warning lights that responds to requests for repair assistance from motorists with disabled vehicles. (2) A person operating a motor vehicle commits the offense of failure to main- tain a safe distance from an emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance if the person ap- proaches an emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambu- lance that is stopped and is displaying required warning lights and the person: (a) On a highway having two or more lanes for traffi c in a single direction, fails to: (A) Make a lane change to a lane not ad- jacent to that of the emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance; or (B) Reduce the speed of the motor ve- hicle to a speed that is at least fi ve miles per hour under the speed limit estab- lished in ORS 811.111 (Violating a speed limit) or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180 (Designa- CHECK US OUT If you’ve been thinking about how you might contribute to your com- munity, then come on out on a Monday night to see what we do. The fi rst, third, and fourth Mon- days of the month, we have our regular- ly scheduled practice night, where you can get a taste for what we do. We’d love to have you come and spend an hour or two with us. We will let you observe a training night, tour the station and equipment, and have all your questions answered by one of our senior fi refi ghters or the Fire Chief. Our Training Night starts at 7 pm and is usually over by 8-8:30 pm. We are located at 555 E. Bridge Street, right across from the entrance of the Vernonia Schools. There is parking on the East side of the building and in the rear parking lot. Please co ntact Chief Smith or Captain Steinweg at 503-429-8252 to make arrangements. See you soon, The Volunteers and Command Staff VRFPD tion of maximum speeds), if making a lane change is unsafe. (b) On a two directional, two-lane highway, fails to reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that is at least fi ve miles per hour under the speed limit established in ORS 811.111 (Violating a speed limit) or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180 (Designation of maxi- mum speeds). (3) The offense described in this section, failure to maintain a safe distance from an emergency vehi- cle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance, is a Class B traffi c violation. Additionally, drivers seem to need a refresher on what to do when they encounter an emergency vehicle that is traveling down the roadway. Again, here is what Oregon law says. 811.145 Failure to yield to emer- gency vehicle or ambulance (1) A person commits the offense of fail- ure to yield to an emergency vehicle or ambulance if an ambulance or emergen- cy vehicle that is using a visual or au- dible signal in a manner described under ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffi c laws) and 820.320 (Illegal operation of emergency vehicle or ambulance) ap- proaches the vehicle the person is oper- ating and the person does not do all of the following: (a) Yield the right of way to the ambu- lance or emergency vehicle. (b) Immediately drive to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right- hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection. (c) Stop and remain in such position un- til the emergency vehicle or ambulance has passed. (2) A person is not in violation of this section if the person is acting as other- wise directed by a police offi cer. (3) This section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle or am- bulance from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor does this section pro- tect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequence of an arbitrary exercise of the right of way granted under this section. (4) The offense described in this section, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle or ambulance, is a Class B traffi c viola- tion. Please use greater caution when traveling our roadways and be on the lookout for Emergency First Responders and Emergency Vehicles. VOLUNTEERS WANTED VERNONIA RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT VRFPD is currently accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Fighters. • You must have a High School Diploma or G.E.D., a valid Oregon Driver’s License, and be at least 18 years of age. • Currently, you must be able to attend weekly training on Monday nights Here’s What We Do! Calls responded to November 1-30 Fire Emergency Medical Service Hazardous Condition Service Call Good Intent Severe Weather & Natural Disaster Special Incident No Emergency Found False Alarm Total • Willing to attend the Fire Academy 0 30 6 7 1 0 0 0 1 45 VRFPD • Live or work (employer willing to let you respond to calls) within VRFPD’s District 555 E. Bridge St. Vernonia, OR 97064 503-429-8252 • Applications can be picked up at the Fire Station. VRFPD FIRE CHIEF Earl Dean Smith dc4502@yahoo.com 503-709-8821 (cell) 503-429-8252 (office) VRFPD P.I.O. Robert Schattschneider pio.vrfpd@gmail.com 971-225-8332 (cell) 503-429-8252 (office)
