vernonia rural fire protection district
october15
2020
5
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Summer Deployments
As many of you know, Vernonia
RFPD is occasionally called upon to assist
with the wildland firefighting efforts across
our state. This year we were called upon
multiple times, but were only available to
send crews to two major conflagrations, one
mutual aid fire, and one unique out of state
deployment. When we deploy we are part of
a county-wide team that goes to these fires
to provide structural protection as well as
assist with firefighting efforts.
The first fire of the year that we were
called for was the Moiser Creek Fire which
was burning near Moiser, Oregon. We sent
three personnel and our type 6 brush engine.
Two of our personnel staffed our type 6 en-
gine while the other was part of the Oregon
State Fire Marshal’s Incident Management
Team (IMT). The team’s days were spent
assessing properties and assisting the IMT
with locating structures in and around the
fire area. The Moiser Creek Fire burned just
under 1,000 acres.
Our second wildland fire of the sea-
son was a mutual aid fire burning near Hagg
Lake. We staffed a type 3 wildland engine,
a water tender, and a chief officer while as-
sisting with suppression operations. The fire
burned just over 100 acres.
Our second deployment with Co-
lumbia County was to the Lionshead Fire.
We were sent as a wildland resource for
the U.S. Forest Service. We sent our type 3
engine and were assigned to structure pro-
tection and triage in and around the Detroit
Lake area. The Lionshead Fire burned over
203,000 acres and fire crews are still work-
ing to mop up the fire area as well as remove
hazards.
Our final deployment was not part of
the county-wide team that is usually activat-
ed during a conflagration. We were asked to
put a speciality rescue team together called
an REMS (Rapid Extrication Module Sup-
port) team. Our county was able to put to-
gether four personnel (two being from the
VRFPD), a UTV, and two support vehicles
and send them to the August Complex Fire
which is still burning in Northern Califor-
nia and has burned over a million acres. An
REMS team is staged at high risk areas of
the fire to be ready for any firefighter in-
juries. This is a technical rescue team that
will use ropes and other special equipment
to rapidly extract firefighters that are injured
and get them the medical help they need in a
timely manner. This is the first time Colum-
bia County has put together an REMS team
and Vernonia Fire was fortunate to have the
opportunity to send our folks out to help our
neighbors to the south while still providing
service to our community.
District Update
We have been incredibly
busy with Fire Season this year as
we have seen historic damage and
loss of life in Oregon wildfires.
While Columbia County as a whole
fared very well with the wind event
that came in over Labor Day, the rest
of our state did not.
We are so proud to be able
to send assistance to our neighbors
during their time of need. While we
may have sent resources out of our
area, we were ever ready to respond
to any and all needs here at home.
We have seen almost record break-
ing months for in-district calls the
last two months; the dedication of
our staff and volunteers in answer-
ing those calls is unwavering. Our
resident volunteer program is in full
swing and our two current resident
volunteers are doing great things!
We are still looking for one
more position to be filled here in Ver-
nonia as well as one at Mist-Birken-
feld Rural Fire District. We continue
to strive to surpass all expectations
of our community, and living up to
our promises that we made with the
passing of the local option levy. We
continue to thank the community for
their support in everything we do.
Without you, we do not exist!
Burn Permits
Just a reminder that if you live in the Vernonia Rural
Fire Protection District you need a valid Burn Permit to burn
your yard and garden debris. You can call for your Burn Per-
mit at the fire station at (503) 429-8252 and we will get an
appointment arranged.
Along with your Burn Permit you will receive some
paperwork listing the items that you are allowed to burn.
Anything other than what is on the list is considered to be an
illegal burn.
Please call the Burn Line BEFORE you burn. Call:
(503) 429-8252. After hours you will be connected to a re-
corded message that will let you know if you are allowed to
burn.
Open burning can change from one day to the next
depending on the weather conditions, so please call and
check before you burn. No burning of garbage and No
burning at night.
Always have water available and some type of tools,
such as a shovel to help you extinguish the fire in the event
that it should start to get away from you. Schedule your burn
for early in the day while the humidity levels are at their
highest and temperatures are still relatively low.
Please be considerate of your neighbors. Keep your
fire burning “hot” with good ventilation to help reduce the
amount of smoke.
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
VERNONIA RURAL FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
Chimney Fires
As temperatures begin to
drop, Oregonians will start using
their fireplaces and wood stoves,
and fire agencies will find them-
selves responding to chimney fires.
The largest percentage (65%) of
chimney related fires occur between
November and February 1. During
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 fire-
place, chimney, or flue and extended
to the structure. During this period,
these fires resulted in 13 injuries,
and more than $13 million in esti-
mated damage.
Most fires involving chim-
neys 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 con-
fined 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.
You can help prevent fires:
• have chimney and wood stove flues
inspected and cleaned each year by a
qualified chimney sweep
• burn only dry, seasoned wood; it
causes less buildup in the chimney
• never use a flammable liquid such
as lighter fluid, kerosene, or gasoline
to start a fire
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
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)