vernonia rural fire protection district
september19
2019
7
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Three Years of Training
By Captain Will Steinweg
On September 1, 2016, I started my position as
the Training Captain for the Vernonia Rural Fire Pro-
tection District. This September marks the third year
I have been with VRFPD and have served with some
amazing volunteers and staff. But what has the Train-
ing Division done in the last three years?
To start, we have revamped the training pro-
gram to push our people to always strive to get better.
In our line of work we have to become comfortable
being uncomfortable. What better way to do that than
to recreate those situations during training. We have
our officers mentor newer volunteers during our drills
to put them in situations they will see in the field and
teach them lessons during our trainings to make them
comfortable in uncomfortable situations. We have also
had eight of our people receive 13 new certifications in
the last three years.
We have also brought in outside resources to
help build on our training program. DPSST has been a
great resource for us over the last three years. We have
brought in training props to work on ventilation and
forcible entry in-house. These are valuable resources
that we, as a Fire District, would not be able to use un-
less we were to go to trainings out of our district. The
Lower Columbia Regional Training Officers Associa-
tion (LCROTA) has also let us borrow props and use
their training facilities in St. Helens to work on live fire
training. Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD has taught classes dur-
ing our Recruit Academy as well as let us use their burn
cell. We have a great relationship with our neighboring
districts that have helped our training program grow.
Vernonia RFPD can also teach more classes
in-house. We are certified through the State of Oregon
to teach Fire Fighter I, Fire Fighter II, Driver, Pump
Operator, and Wildland Firefighter type 2 courses. Be-
cause of that we had our first in-house Recruit Acad-
emy in years and next month we will be holding an
NFPA Driver course in-house. VRFPD is accredited
through DPSST to teach these courses to other districts
as well. Meaning we will not only be teaching our vol-
unteers but we will also be teaching firefighters from
all over our county. I have been working on my certifi-
cation level as well to better serve the community and
our District. While I have been with VRFPD I have
received my Fire Ground Leader and Rope Rescue Op-
erations level certification and have been working to-
ward my Fire Officer I and CPR instructor. This means
I can train our people to a higher level than when I was
hired.
We continue to build on our training program
every year. The more we train, the better we can serve
our community. I would like to once again thank our
voters for giving me the opportunity to serve this won-
derful community. This community has an amazing
group of volunteers always working to get better.
Building an Emergency Supply Kit for Your Home and Car
Here in the Great Northwest,
emergencies can threaten the safety of
our families. Whether it’s a snow storm,
wind event, flooding, or an earthquake,
steps can be taken to improve the out-
come.
For a complete list of steps to
take, templates that you can use, and
other good information, go to www.
Ready.gov. This website is the official
website for the Department of Homeland
Security.
We recommend that you build
a disaster supply kit. The kit will con-
tain basic items that you will need in the
event of an emergency.
You may need to survive on your
own after an emergency. This means
having your own food, water, and other
supplies in sufficient quantity to last for
at least 72 hours. Local officials and re-
lief workers will be on the scene after a
disaster but they cannot reach everyone
immediately. You could get help in hours
or it might take days.
You should build your kit well
in advance in the event that you need
to evacuate at a moment’s notice, tak-
ing the essentials with you. If you wait
you probably will not have the time to
assemble or shop for the items in most
circumstances.
After building your supply kit,
you’ll want to make sure that it is prop-
erly maintained.
Here are some tips to keep your
kit ready and in good condition.
• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plas-
tic or metal containers to protect from
pests and to extend its shelf life.
• Throw out any canned goods that be-
comes swollen, dented, or corroded.
• Place new items at the back of the stor-
age area and older ones in the front.
• Change stored food and water supplies
every six months. Be sure to write the
date you store it on all containers.
• Re-think your needs every year and
update your kit as your family’s needs
change.
• Go to: http://www.ready.gov/maintain-
ing-your-kit, for additional information.
You never know where you
might be when an emergency occurs.
Consider having more than one kit avail-
able. Having your main supply kit at
home will cover you and your family
in the event that you need to evacuate.
But having a small kit at work or in your
car could prove to be quite valuable if
you are unable to get home and become
stranded in your vehicle because of an
event. Becoming stranded in your car is
a real possibility during a disaster.
Consider the following things
when putting together your emergency
food supplies:
• Store at least a three-day supply of non-
perishable food.
• Choose foods your family will eat.
• Remember any special dietary needs.
• Avoid foods that will make you thirsty.
• Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain
cereals, and canned foods with high liq-
uid content.
• Don’t forget about medications that
you or your family members take daily.
Following a disaster, there may
be power outages that could last for sev-
eral days. Stock canned foods, dry mix-
es, and other staples that do not require
refrigeration, cooking, water, or special
preparation. Be sure to include a manual
can opener and eating utensils.
You should store at least one gal-
lon of water per person for three days. A
normally active person needs about three
quarters of a gallon of fluid daily, from
water and other beverages. However, in-
dividual needs vary, depending on age,
health, physical condition, activity, diet,
and climate. To determine your water
needs, take the following into account:
• One gallon of water per person per day,
for drinking and sanitation.
• Children, nursing mothers, and sick
people may need more water.
• A medical emergency might require ad-
ditional water.
• If you live in a warm weather climate
more water may be necessary. In very
hot temperatures, water needs can dou-
ble.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of wa-
ter per person.
For more information about de-
veloping a disaster plan, building a 72-
hour supply kit for you and your family,
go to: https://www.ready.gov.
Information contained in this article was
obtained from www.Ready.gov.
Chimney Fires
As temperatures begin to drop, Oregonians
will start using their fireplaces and woodstoves, and fire
agencies will find themselves responding to chimney
fires. The largest percentage (65%) of chimney related
fires occur between November and February 1. Dur-
ing these months, chimney fires account for nearly one
out of every three home fires. Looking at houses and
apartments in Oregon from 2011 through 2015, there
were a total of 2,968 fires that either were confined to a
chimney/flue or started in a fireplace, chimney, or flue
and extended to the structure. During this period, these
fires resulted in 13 injuries, and more than $13 million
in estimated damage.
Most fires involving chimneys are confined to
the chimney or flue. These confined fires rarely result
in serious injury and account for just 2% of estimated
losses in chimney related fires. The average estimated
loss per fire that was confined to the chimney or flue
was $96. Conversely, 17% of chimney fires spread to
become building fires, accounting for 98% of estimated
losses in chimney related fires. The average estimated
loss per fire that was not confined to the chimney or
flue was more than $26,000.
Additional chimney related fire statistics:
• Half of all chimney fires occurred between 4 and 9 pm
• There has been a 7.5% average decrease in chimney
fire incidents over the last five years.
as using a fireplace screen, keeping combustibles away
• The average dollar loss from a chimney fire that from heat sources, and properly disposing of ashes will
spreads to the structure is about 270 times greater than also translate to fewer fires.
the average dollar loss from a chimney fire confined to
The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has
the chimney. The trends, issues, and threats associated educational materials covering home heating and many
with chimney fires in a local community can easily be other topics. You can review and order materials on the
identified through complete and accurate incident re- OSFM website: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/SFM/
ports. By understanding the prevalence and causes of docs/Comm_Ed/Gated_Wye/2016/November_16_
chimney fires in their local jurisdictions, fire agencies GatedWye.pdf.
can lead public education campaigns to help prevent
these types of fires.
The following can help pre-
vent fires:
• Have chimney and wood-
stove flues inspected and
Calls responded to August 1-31
cleaned each year by a qual-
ified chimney sweep
Fire
3
• Burn only dry, seasoned
Emergency Medical Service
39
wood; it causes less buildup
Hazardous Condition
2
in the chimney
• Never use a flammable
Service Call
12
liquid such as lighter fluid,
Good Intent
1
kerosene, or gasoline to start
False Alarm
7
a fire
Total
64
In addition, under-
standing safe practices, such