TVF&R firefighter tests positive for coronavirus

A Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus, COVID-19, the fire district said Wednesday. According to TVR&R, the firefighter started feeling ill while off duty and immediately began self-isolating at home for more than a week. Officials said the firefighter was not experiencing symptoms while working and the district believes the risk of exposure to others was low. As of Wednesday, the firefighter is reportedly feeling better. They will be tested again and evaluated by the fire district's medical provider before returning to work. As part of their COVID-19 response policy, TVR&R personnel are required to take their temperature before beginning their shift or work day. TVF&R firefighters and paramedics are using personal protective equipment and cleaning procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Oregon receives large shipment of personal protective equipment from FEMA

Oregon received a shipment of personal protective equipment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Tuesday. According to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, the equipment arrived at the PPE Distribution Center in Wilson. Once received, the state began processing and shipping the supplies to all 36 counties and nine tribes in Oregon. As of midday Tuesday, the state had distributed: Over 1 million gloves; 10,000 face shields; Over 400,000 N95 masks; Over 50,000 surgical masks. "Having an adequate supply of PPE—masks, gowns, and gloves––is essential for the safety of first responders and health care workers,” said Andrew Phelps, director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management .
KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Seaside fire chief shares protections, needs during virus

On Wednesday, March 25, Oregon’s congressional delegation — Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, and Kurt Schrader, and Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley — described “serious shortages” of personal protective equipment, including respiratory masks, surgical gowns and gloves in helping to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This equipment is necessary to protect the health of responders, health care workers and the public to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. The Signal talked to Seaside’s Fire Chief Joey Daniels. Daniels is Clatsop County’s Fire Defense Chief, a rotating position every three years amongst the chiefs in the county. He spoke about virus-related needs, protocols and protections for firefighters.
Seaside Signal

Douglas County residents making masks for first responders

Dozens of Douglas County residents have come together to sew masks for first responders in the area. Due to the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment, coordinators said they wanted to connect with others to sew reuseable masks. Coordinators started the project through a Facebook group called “Douglas County Helpers” in March. The group currently has 1,200 members. Coordinators said they aren’t limiting the masks to first responders, they’re also giving them to anyone who needs one for free. “Something is better than nothing and that you’re protecting everyone from you with the mask,” said Julie Hammond, co-coordinator of Douglas County Helpers. “And that’s what we’re trying to do. Slow the curve.”
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

Clackamas County authorities say ’happy birthday’ to boy who couldn’t have party during outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak has put a kibosh on big, blowout birthday parties. But Clackamas County authorities recently helped a young boy celebrate another trip around the sun — all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Happy Valley police and Clackamas Fire District 1 personnel put on a drive-by birthday celebration for 8-year-old Archie, addressing the boy over a loudspeaker and showing off some lights and sirens. The coronavirus outbreak has put a kibosh on big, blowout birthday parties. But Clackamas County authorities recently helped a young boy celebrate another trip around the sun — all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Happy Valley police and Clackamas Fire District 1 personnel put on a drive-by birthday celebration for 8-year-old Archie, addressing the boy over a loudspeaker and showing off some lights and sirens.
Portland Oregonian, Hillsboro Argus, Oregon Live.com

Portland firefighter tests positive for coronavirus

A Portland firefighter tested positive for coronavirus and is in quarantine, according to fire officials. The employee was one of at least 10 symptomatic Portland firefighters tested for the virus since the end of last week and was the only one whose results came back positive, Alan Ferschweiler, president of the Portland Fire Fighters Association, said Tuesday. The firefighter hadn’t been to work for about two weeks, and there’s no indication that other colleagues were exposed, the union president said. The news comes after the Gresham Fire Department also announced Tuesday that one of their employees also tested positive for the virus. Both are the first publicly confirmed cases involving firefighters in Multnomah County.
Portland Oregonian, Hillsboro Argus, Oregon Live.com

Greg Davis sworn in as new Klamath County Fire District 1 Fire Chief

Greg Davis was sworn in Tuesday as Klamath County Fire District 1’s Fire Chief, as the department’s chief since 2014, John Spradley, retires. Davis’s first official day as chief is today. Davis brings with him decades of fire experience, with about 20 years of that tied to Klamath County. He began as an Air Force fire fighter before joining Kingsley Field Fire Department and holding several positions with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office for Klamath and Lake Counties. While he anticipates a learning curve in familiarizing himself with the numerous services that fire district 1 provides the Klamath community, Davis said he’s excited to build on the initiative and relationships the department has throughout Southern Oregon. “I’m looking forward to working with the team, there’s a lot of good people here,” he said.
Klamath Falls Herald and News - Metered Site

Jackson County Fire District 3 makes new changes to preserve PPE and limit exposure

VIDEO: Fire District 3 is taking extra precautions to make sure none of its responders get the coronavirus. The district also wants to persevere it's supply of personal protective equipment or PPE. Tuesday, NewsWatch 12 talked to Chief Horton about the new changes. The chief says in some situations responders may be wearing more protective gear than you are use to them wearing. He says this is just a precaution. The first responders are also starting assessments before they get on scene. This would be through facetime or a phone call to learn more about the 911 call. Additional information will help determine how many people need to put on PPE and cross social distancing guidelines. "To last as long as it possible can. So that anyone who has emergent conditions is receiving the appropriate care and no health care worker in our entire county is left without having the right tools to protect themselves." said Chief Horton.
KDRV-TV ABC 12 Medford

Schools donate hundreds of pairs of protective goggles to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue

Several local school districts donated hundreds of pairs of goggles to Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, allowing firefighters and paramedics to better protect themselves while responding to calls during the coronavirus pandemic. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue said they reached out to local school districts last week, seeing if they had any equipment to spare. In just days, or even hours, the fire department said they received hundreds of goggles. "A huge thank you goes out to school district staff, principals and administration, and science teachers who graciously helped us out in this time of need!" Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue wrote in a tweet. Beaverton School District, Sherwood School District, Tigard-Tualatin Schools and West Linn-Wilsonville School District all donated.
KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Prescribed burns put on hold in Oregon due to coronavirus

Fire prevention is changing across the state due to coronavirus precautions. That includes measures to reducing smoke in the air, and the Oregon Department of Forestry is holding a big burden of debt as it awaits reimbursements from the U.S. government. State lawmakers hope to ease that burden soon. Fire season is always top of mind for fire officials but now, so is the novel coronavirus. Eric Johnson, with the Interagency Fire Management, says prescribed burning has been put on hold in Oregon. “What if employees become sick while we already have a fire on the ground what if we’re putting smoke into the air and it doesn’t go as planned,” asked Johnson. Extra smoke in the air during a pandemic is of course not a good thing. That's why the Oregon Department of Forestry is also changing its burning guidelines.
KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland