Salem-News.com Fire articles Page 31

Oregon Fire Awards Recognize Selfless and Courageous Dedication

People who live at the edge of the blade: Oregon's firefighters and emergency service teams, along with a few civilians including a TV news crew from Portland, are recognized for their extraordinary efforts.

(CANBY, Ore.) - Citizens of Oregon enjoy an enviable sense of security with the fire agencies listed below. They were recognized this weekend at an honorary awards ceremony.

The list of award recipients at this year's Oregon Meritorious Awards from the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, also goes far beyond the services, and recognizes the help they receive from police, civilians and even a Portland, Oregon TV news crew.

Injury Crash Leads to High Angle Rescue Near Carver (PHOTOS)

Injury Traffic Crash and Subsequent High Angle Rope Rescue by Fire Personnel on Highway 224.

(CARVER, Ore.) - Police say three people received non-life threatening injuries Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 224 about 2 1/2 miles east of Carver.

Lieutenant Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police, says one of the vehicles traveled off the highway and down an approximate 80-foot embankment from which the occupant was removed by a coordinated effort involving personnel from Boring and Clackamas Fire districts and American Medical Response.

Quick Response From TV&R Fire Saves Sherwood Home‏ (PHOTOS)

Fire crews battling heavy flames saved home from destruction within five minutes of arrival.

(SHERWOOD, Ore.) - A quick response by an off-duty Battalion Chief as well as career and volunteer firefighters from TVF&R, limited the damage caused by a fire at 23210 SW Cascade Place in Sherwood this afternoon.

Sherwood Fire Spokesman Walt Peck says a Battalion Chief was working at his Sherwood home when he heard the 9-1-1 operator dispatch a first alarm response at 1:30 p.m.

Letter to the Editor: California Budget Catastrophe - Let the Poor fix it!

Keep up the good work, Arnold!!!

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Our good old Govenator was at his best this week, trying to close a 24 billion dollar budget cap for California.

I support his efforts to cut out Cal Works, where we waste millions so those welfare people can "learn" a skill and get a job. They don't want to work anyway, they just want a handout!

Go ahead and cut out health insurance for poor kids. Let them go to the E.R. It is a lie that going to the E.R. ends up costing the tax payer several times more than it would if they had health insurance. Those parents don't care about their kids anyway, that is why they all end up in gangs.

Wildfire Season for 2009 Looms: Officials Issue Expectations & Preparations

Rod Nichols with the Oregon's Forestry Department says current conditions suggest that the state will experience an average to slightly worse-than-average wildfire season in 2009.

(SALEM, Ore.) - When asked to characterize the upcoming wildfire season, Oregon Department of Forestry fire managers are likely to fall back on Nobel physicist Niels Bohr's maxim, "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future."

That's not to say they don't try. There are dozens of scientific indicators to pore over prior to the summer – weather trends (El Nino/La Nina), snowpack levels, forest fuel moisture content, et al. But the most critical factor in the equation plays out real-time: the weather during fire season.

Fire Damages Hillsboro Gas Station Building‏ (VIDEO)

The fire produced such thick black smoke outside that at least two neighboring businesses chose to temporarily close and evacuated their buildings.

(HILLSBORO, Ore.) - A one-alarm fire caused an estimated 60-thousand dollars in damage to the building housing the Airport 76 Gas and Market at 1729 NE Cornell Road Thursday.

Storm Smith with Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, says two residents of an apartment complex behind the gas station ran into the facility to report the fire to the employees inside. All employees and customers of the store escaped unharmed.

Salem Home Goes Up in Smoke

A Salem house destroyed Thursday afternoon by fire was unoccupied.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fire crews in Marion County were busy Thursday evening battling a fire that broke out in an older Salem home at Center and 45th around 6:00 p.m.

The wooden structure quickly became engulfed in flames, much to the surprise of neighbors like Andrey Ocerov. "You know, the first impression was scary. I was sitting there using the computer and my sister ran into the house saying, 'Andrey, the house is on fire'. You know I was so scared I thought it was our house on fire, so I jumped outside."

Winds, Heat Threaten to Spread California Fire

Winds that have diminished are expected to pick up later today, causing more fire danger.

(SANTA BARBARA) - AccuWeather.com reports that although firefighters have been able to reach 70% containment of the fire, aided by a combination of lighter winds and a cooler, moist onshore flow from the Pacific over the weekend, winds are expected to pick up again tonight into Tuesday.

These winds are not expected to be as strong as those of late last week. Winds could become rather strong again late in the week. Temperatures are expected to surge in the Wednesday to Friday period, when humidity levels will drop significantly.

Salem Family Aborts Coastal Getaway to Find Home Ablaze

The quick actions of Salem firefighters prevented the home from becoming a total loss.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem family's weekend getaway to the Oregon coast was cut short Friday night, when they received a phone call advising them that their home on Jones Road was on fire.

The family that lives in the residence at 5167 Jones Road SE, turned around and arrived to see their garage severely damaged, but the home, thanks to the quick actions of firefighters, was still still primarily intact.

Jesusita Fire Near Santa Barbara Only 10% Contained (VIDEO)

Experts say dry conditions will elevate California's fire risk for 20 Years.

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) - AccuWeather's Expert Meteorologist Joe Bastardi says Southern California's extremely dry conditions are going to have an ongoing impact in terms of fire safety. In fact, he says residents will continue to see fire-related problems because of this for at least the next 20 years.

The drought hasn't been good news for crews battling the Jesusita Fire north of Santa Barbara, The Pacific Ocean is cooling, and that means the weather pattern is changing and the result will be areas of the Southwest remaining dry.