vernonia rural fire protection district
june18
2020
5
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Thank You!
To our community,
The words “Thank You” don’t
seem nearly enough. As a District and
Board of Directors, the decision was
made that we must do something to in-
crease funding to Emergency Services,
and continue to provide a high level of
response to our community, and those
that come to visit. Like I said to our
volunteers in an email after the Levy
passed,
“We have a lot of great things happen-
ing. We have a dedicated core of volun-
teers, we’re making the responses when
they happen, we have a budget that al-
lows us to move forward, and we’re go-
ing to make the most of every penny to
benefit the community in the programs
Wildfire Conditions
exceed 2 feet in height and should be
a minimum of 25 feet from any com-
bustible material. Only clean, natural
wood that is short enough to fit within
the fire pit is allowed to be burned.
Recreational fires must be attended at
all times by a responsible, sober, non-
impaired adult with suitable on-site
fire extinguishing equipment such as a
working garden hose. Burning of gar-
bage or yard debris is not considered
recreational burning. Backyard barbe-
cues including charcoal and propane
power units are allowed.
Open burning of yard debris
will be prohibited as of July 1 until fall
rain returns. Open burning within the
city limits of the fire districts are regu-
lated by those local government enti-
ties.
We are encouraging the public
to avoid burning on dry, windy days
The Columbia County Fire De-
fense Board would like to remind all
residents that Northwest Oregon will
enter Fire Season July 1, 2020 at 12:01
am. This effects private, county, state,
and local government lands within
Columbia County. It is anticipated
that summer weather patterns will dry
wildland fuels and increase the risk for
fire spread. These weather patterns also
bring the risk of lightning and increase
fire activity in the area. Fire season is
intended to reduce human fire starts by
restricting some activities related to
forest operations and open burning.
Recreational fires will be al-
lowed within the landscaped footprint
of a residential yard so long as recre-
ational fire regulations are followed.
Recreational fires must be in designat-
ed fire pits and can be no larger than
3 feet in diameter with flames not to
Training Burn
As some people have seen in
the community our hands-on training
is slowly starting to take place again.
Due to COVID-19, the Fire District
was limited on in-person training ac-
tivities. You will start seeing us more
and more in the community working
on our skills.
Recently we were donated a
structure to train on. The house will
eventually be a burn-to-learn house,
but for the time being we will use ev-
ery opportunity we can to train inside
and outside the house to practice mul-
tiple skills. Everything from ventila-
tion to Mayday drills will be practiced
in the house before we finally burn it.
We also will be using the house as a
way to get our recruits the necessary
training for them to be certified Fire-
fighters. If everything goes as planned
we will be holding the training burn
sometime in September.
The District staff has spent
a lot of time recently going over the
needs of our volunteers to help them
progress in the fire service. We will
be working hard to make sure that the
training program is always the best it
can be for our volunteers. We would
not be in the position we are without
the amazing support of our commu-
nity and the hard work of our volun-
teers.
we implement, the changes we make,
and the equipment we purchase.
At the end of the day, remember
it all comes down to one thing... THEM.
‘I am not here for me, I am here
for we, and WE are here for THEM!’
(Anchorage Fire Department)
Keep up the strong work, we
appreciate you!”
We made promises and com-
mitments to you, those we serve, to
increase staffing, increase our reserve
funds for future expenditures, and ini-
tiate programs that will best serve the
community, at the lowest costs possible.
We intend to keep those promises, and
some of those processes have already
begun. We are in line to increase our
full-time staff by one person effective
July 1, we are completing pre-program
requirements to begin our Resident Vol-
unteer Program in conjunction with the
Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection
District, and start the process to train
our volunteers to the next level.
We are forever grateful to all of
you, and your support of the Vernonia
Rural Fire District. Without all of you,
we do not exist.
when fires are more likely to escape.
Fine fuels such as green grass can eas-
ily ignite when the humidity is low and
winds are strong.
When drier weather conditions
result in a more significant fire haz-
ard, recreational burning may be more
tightly regulated or banned complete-
ly. Escaped fires of any kind resulting
in property damage may result in fines
and individual financial responsibility.
Commercial burning such as
slash burns regulated by the Oregon
Department of Forestry will be closed.
For more information regard-
ing campfires, recreational burning,
and debris burning please visit the fol-
lowing, depending on which district
you are in:
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection Dis-
trict (503) 429-8252
Columbia River Fire & Rescue www.
crfr.com and click on “Burn Permits”
Scappoose Fire District www.srfd.us
and click on the “Outdoor Burning”
link
Clatskanie Fire District http://www.
clatskaniefire.org/burn-permit
Oregon Department of Forestry
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/
index.aspx
Mist Birkenfeld Fire District https://
www.mistbirkenfeldrfpd.org/outdoor-
burn-information .
If you are within the city limits
of any city please visit their website or
contact them by phone for additional
burning regulations.
Sincerely,
Chief Smith
Chief Steinweg
Chief Davis
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!
• Willing to attend the Fire Academy
• Live or work (employer willing to let you
respond to calls) within VRFPD’s District
Calls responded to May 1-31
Fire
Emergency Medical Service
Hazardous Condition
Service Call
Good Intent
False Alarm
Total
3
37
0
5
1
2
48
VRFPD
555 E. Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
503-429-8252
• Applications can be picked up at the Fire
Station
Rob Davis
Volunteer Recruitment & Retention
Vernonia Fire & Mist-Birkenfeld Fire
503-429-8252 (Vernonia)
503-755-2710 (Mist)
