Firefighters rescue cow buried up to its neck in mud in Columbia County

VIDEO: A team of firefighters pulled a 1,700-pound cow named Ruby from a bog near Mist, Oregon, on April 21, after the cow became trapped neck-deep in mud. Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District Training Chief Will Steinweg told KOIN 6 News that firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 12:52 p.m., after the cow’s owners called for help to rescue the sinking animal. “We are also udder-ly grateful for members from Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District and Westport Fire and Rescue-Oregon who graciously assisted us on scene and we are pleased to report Ruby is out of the mud and recovering,” the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District shared on social media following the rescue. Firefighters were able to rescue the cow thanks to a donation of special animal technical rescue equipment that was donated to the department a few years ago, the district said.
KOIN-TV NBC 6 Portland

Car crashes through Tigard construction zone and onto highway below; driver still missing

PHOTO: At around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, Tigard Police and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a car that had gone off the embankment where the Hall Street overpass is being built. Tigard Police confirmed to KATU News that a car crashed through the construction zone on SW Hall Boulevard and crashed onto Highway 217 below. “Our officers couldn’t find the driver and a K9 track was conducted, but that person was not immediately found,” a Tigard Police spokesperson said in an email to KATU News. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue said the crash resulted in a significant car fire that fire crews were able to extinguish. ODOT, who is managing the construction of the new overpass, said they are reviewing any possible damage to the structure.
KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Early season Oregon brush fires grab attention

It’s only mid-April, but a few small brush fires popped up in the region over the past few days, putting fire officials on alert. Saturday afternoon, a brush fire burned about a quarter-acre near Northwest Corey Road in Washington County, officials with TVF&R said. The gusty winds added to the urgency to contain the fire, which happened from “debris burning that got out of control.” No one was hurt and TVF&R officials said it was put out in about 45 minutes. Around that same time, Estacada firefighters dealt with a burn pile that grew to about 100 feet x 200 feet. They said they put it out quickly and it didn’t threaten any structures.
KOIN-TV NBC 6 Portland

Eugene Springfield firefighters safely respond to abandoned building fire thanks to inspection program

Eugene Springfield firefighters responded to a fire on April 20 in an abandoned home that was deemed 'unsafe' during an inspection by Deputy Fire Marshals, allowing the firefighters to take the necessary precautions in their response. Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a house fire at the intersection of North Game Farm Road and Old Coburg Road on Saturday morning. When they arrived, firefighters found smoke and fire coming from an abandoned home. The building had recently been determined unsafe during an inspection by Deputy Fire Marshals from the Eugene Springfield Fire Community Risk Reduction & Resilience Division, ESF said. In 2023, ESF initiated a new program requiring vacant and abandoned buildings to be inspected, boarded up, and secured.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

State Fire Marshal Gives Marion County Fire District #1 New Pumper

Marion County Fire District #1 took receipt of a Type 3 fire engine from the Oregon State Fire Marshal earlier this month. The engine, part of the State Fire Marshal’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative, is one of 76 fire apparatus the Marshal will deliver this year. The equipment deliveries are made possible by a $25 million grant, part of Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill in 2021. The Response Ready Oregon initiative was created to add capacity and modernize wildfire responses. Marion County Fire District #1 Chief Kyle McMann took delivery at the state fire marshal’s Salem office. “I am happy to announce this fire engine will be stationed at the Four Corners firehouse and is designed to boost capacity and modernize equipment within the Fire District. Moreover, the engine will aid the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System as the state deals with wildfires,” said Chief McMann.
Keizertimes