vernonia rural fire protection district
august17
2017
15
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Fire Season Burn Ban Now in Effect
By Robert Schattschneider
It’s Fire Season once again, and
like in years past, we’ve entered into the
season of the dreaded “Burn Ban.” One
frustrating thing about Fire Season is
that the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels
(IFPL) can change back and forth every
few days or so. So, what’s allowed
today, not so much tomorrow, and then
back again.
Each year we get flooded with
questions about burning, campfires, fire
pits, BBQ grills, gas, propane,
charcoal briquettes, and much,
much more. So, we thought we
would try to clear some of this
up for you.
The Oregon Department
of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon
Office of State Fire Marshal,
and the different Rural Fire
Protection Districts, such as: The
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection
District,
work
together,
following Oregon Laws, to
protect our State Forests and
communities from wildfires.
The Oregon Department of
Forestry’s Mission:
• To serve the people of Oregon by pro-
tecting, managing, and promoting stew-
ardship of Oregon’s forests to enhance
environmental, economic, and commu-
nity sustainability.
Oregon’s largest fire department,
ODF’s Fire Protection program protects
16 million acres of forest, a $60 billion
asset. These lands consist of privately
owned forests as well as some public
lands, including state-owned forests
and, by contract, US Bureau of Land
Management forests in western Oregon.
ODF is also part of an extensive
fire protection network that includes
landowner resources, contract crews and
aircraft, inmate crews, and agreements
with public agencies across Oregon, the
U.S. and British Columbia.
ODF’s firefighting policy is
straightforward: Put out fires quickly
at the smallest possible size. Most of
the lands protected by the agency are
working forests that produce revenue
and support jobs. It is crucial to prevent
fire damage to the timber resource that
is an essential element of Oregon’s
economy. This aggressive approach to
firefighting also safeguards ecosystem
values such as fish and wildlife habitats.
For these reasons, strict Oregon
State Laws are enforced to protect our
forests, wildlife, and personal property.
When our State Forester, Peter
Daugherty, declares that we are under
an IFPL, it’s after several factors have
been considered, such as moisture
content, weather forecasts, temperature,
humidity, just to name of few.
For a complete list and descrip-
tion of each of the different levels, go
to: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/
Pages/Restrictions.aspx and click on In-
dustrial Fire Precaution Levels .
We were recently under
IFPL Level 3, which means “No
Burning,” including campfires.
You could have used your propane
or natural gas grills, your above
ground gas or propane fire pits, but
no charcoal briquettes or firewood.
The reason for this is be-
cause a burning ember can travel
up to a quarter of a mile under cer-
tain conditions, so having water and
tools readily available will not pre-
vent an ember from traveling to a fuel
source and igniting a wildfire.
ORS 478.960 covers
the burning of certain materi-
als permitted only with the per-
mission of the Fire Chief. In
summary, this statute basically
states that the fire chief, with
help from the DEQ and Oregon
State Fire Marshal, sets the reg-
ulations on burning in the fire
district. It also states that the
person starting the fire has ulti-
mate responsibility for the fire.
If the fire gets out of control and
damages another’s property, the person
that started the fire could be charged
with second degree arson.
ORS 477.510 and ORS 477.512
cover acts prohibited during Fire Season
and within 1/8 mile of a forest protection
district. These acts include: smoking
while working in or traveling through
any operation area, the use of fuse and
caps for blasting, unless approval is
granted by the forester, the use of sky
lanterns, the use of tracer ammunition,
and the use of exploding targets.
ORS 477.515 covers burning
without a permit. This statute states it’s
unlawful to set or cause an open fire
within 1/8 mile of a forest protection
district without first securing a written
permit for burning from the forester and
complying with the conditions of the
permit. The provisions of this section do
not apply to campfires. However, when
the State Forester has declared an IFPL
Level 3, campfires are not permitted at
any time, with or without a permit.
In summary, all of these laws
have been put in place to protect
Oregon’s natural resources and personal
property, both state owned and private
lands.
All violations of these Oregon
Revised Statutes are subject to fines.
We strongly urge you to know your rights
and responsibilities along with the rules
and regulations (Oregon State Statutes)
that are in place for the protection of
everyone.
Obtain your burn permit from
the officials that cover your area. If
you live within the Vernonia Rural Fire
Protection District, you can pick up your
burn permit at the fire station which
is located at 555 E. Bridge Street in
Vernonia. When you pick up your burn
permit, you will be given a list of the
regulations that you will be required to
adhere to.
Thank you for understanding
and for your cooperation.
A Lifetime of Service: John Cahill
By Robert Schattschneider
I think everyone
would agree that the time pe-
riod we live in has greatly
changed from that of our par-
ents and grandparents. I have
found that finding people who
have dedicated their lives to
serving others isn’t always as
easy as it used to be.
I would like to dedi-
cate this article to John Cahill,
because in my opinion, John
has dedicated his life to serving others.
John began his lifetime of service in 1962,
when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. John dedicated
the next 20 years of his life to the Marines, retiring in
1982 at the rank of 1 st Sergeant.
In the United States Marine Corps, first ser-
geant (abbreviated 1stSgt) is one rank above gunnery
sergeant and one pay grade below sergeant major and
master gunnery sergeant. It is equal in grade to master
sergeant (E8), although the two ranks have different re-
sponsibilities.
A first sergeant has command leadership re-
sponsibilities and serves as the senior enlisted adviser
to the commander at the company, battery or detach-
ment level, while master sergeants have technical re-
sponsibilities within their respective occupational
fields, and serve important leadership roles within vari-
ous company or battery sections.
After his retirement from the U.S. Marine
Corps, John worked for the Multnomah County Sher-
iff’s Office as a Corrections Deputy for 16 years. While
serving as a Corrections Dep- to help the victim’s family members with things like
uty, John also pastored at the transportation to the hospital, waiting with them while
First Baptist Church, retiring they await news from the doctors who are treating their
in 2012.
family member, and any other way that is within John’s
When John was asked means.
why he was never promoted
From time to time the medics and fire fighters
beyond the rank of Deputy, hold a “Post Incident Debriefing” where they discuss
he stated, “I would have to the facts of the incident, and the medics and fire fight-
change shifts that would inter- ers are allowed to ask questions and discuss their feel-
fere with being a pastor, so I ings about what took place.
turned them down.”
John has been very instrumental in the emo-
During the 30 plus tional wellbeing of the first responders at VRFPD.
years of serving as a pastor,
If you call 911 for an emergency, John Cahill
John also served as Chaplin may be one of the first responders showing up in your
for the Vernonia Police Department and the Vernonia time of need. We want you to know that John is there to
Rural Fire Protection District.
help us, and you, should you need his help.
John currently holds the position of Chaplin
for the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District. As our
Chaplin, John responds to
calls to assist the medics
and volunteer fire fighters,
by carrying items needed
for treatment of the vic-
Fire
2
tim, and anywhere else as
Emergency Medical Service
55
needed.
Hazardous
Condition
0
John is also there
Service Call
9
to help anyone else who
might need some help.
Good Intent
9
Some incidents are very
Severe Weather & Natural Disaster
0
stressful for the victims,
Special Incident
0
the victim’s family mem-
No Emergency Found
0
bers, and sometimes the
False Alarm
2
fire fighters and medics.
Total
77
A d d i t i o n a l l y,
John is willing and able
Calls responded to July 1-31