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Hoodland Heat ~ Issue 2025-01

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January 2025

Hoodland Fire District #74 Newsletter

Proudly serving the communities of  Marmot, Cherryville, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zig Zag, Rhododendron, and Government Camp

1. Chief's Message

A WORD FROM THE FIRE CHIEF

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Dear Community members,

As we move into the new year, we want to thank you for your continued support and engagement with the fire district.  2024 was a busy year for the district, bringing many challenges and opportunities.  The district responded to 994 requests for emergency service in 2024, fulfilling our key mission of providing emergency services to the community, while also participating in the state’s response to the many wildfires across Oregon this past fire season.

While emergency response remains our primary mission, the district strives to prevent and prepare for emergencies before they happen and to that end, we continue to participate on and support the Highway 26 Wildfire Partnership.  The district continues to look forward and continuing to work on hardening our community against the threat of wildfire with the assistance of the community and our agency partners. Additional major initiatives include replacing our Wildland Interface Fire Engine with budgeted funds, budgeting for an additional line firefighter, and beginning the process to update the district’s Strategic Plan.

Finally, the district has begun the process to replace the Main Fire Station in Welches.  The current facility is over 50 years old, is not seismically sound and does not have adequate facilities to support our 24/7 mission.  This is a major undertaking (and not one that we take lightly) that won’t be successful without the support of the community.  I encourage anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to the fire district for more information or even attend a district board meeting.  Hoodland Fire District #74 is YOUR fire district, we are here to serve you. Our dedicated team has been working tirelessly to keep our community safe and informed and as we transition into the New Year we will strive to continue this commitment.

Thank you again and stay safe,

James Price

Fire Chief

Hoodland Fire District #74

2. Fire Safety Tips

Know Your Home Fire Escape Plan

Every family should have a home escape plan in place in the event that a fire does occur.  Families should work together to create an escape plan, by walking through the home to inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.  Including the entire family for an educational exercise with a clear focus on safety and is a great way to get children involved in fire safety in a non-threatening way.

Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.  See if your street number is clearly visible from the road. If not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers or the Hoodland Fire District offers address markers for a nominal fee to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.  Have everyone memorize the 911 emergency phone number. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.

If there are infants, older adults or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the event of an emergency.  Assign a backup person in case the designee is not home during the emergency.  If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have emergency release devices inside so they can be opened immediately in an emergency.  Emergency release devices will not compromise your security but, they will increase your chances of safely escaping a house fire.

Once the plan is in place, practice your home fire escape plan, making the drill as realistic as possible.  Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. The objective is to practice, not to frighten, so telling children there will be a drill before they go to bed can be as effective as a surprise drill.  It is important to determine during the drill whether children and others can readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm. If they fail to awaken, make sure that someone is assigned to wake them up as part of the drill and in a real emergency situation.

Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan.  When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.  Be fully prepared for a real fire: when a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately.  Find the clearest path out and move that direction, making sure to close doors along the way.  A closed door will help slow the spread of the fire, along with smoke and potentially toxic gas, and allow you more time to escape.  Once you're out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building.  If someone is missing, inform the 911 dispatcher when you call.  Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.

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3. Recent News & Events

Engine 352 Refurbishment

Even a fire engine deserves a vacation and a little spa time.  Engine 352, which has been inhabiting the Brightwood Fire Station since arriving at Hoodland Fire more than 22 years ago has headed off to the Las Vegas area for a facelift.  This vehicle is beyond the commonly expected lifetime of a piece of fire apparatus, but is still in great shape.  The needs of the Fire District have changed since it was designed and built by Pierce Manufacturing in 2002. While the rig is mechanically sound, the body could use some reworking to make the vehicle much more efficient to use.  And with the million dollar cost and up to 4 year delivery time for new apparatus it just makes sense to make some modifications to this vehicle so it can be used for another ten to fifteen years, maybe more.

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Most fire apparatus are custom built to specifications developed by the agency that is ordering them, and this was the case with E352.  It was ordered with a water tank that holds 1,000 gallons of water and through the middle of that tank is a tunnel that holds ladders and other long tools.  This gave the rig a powerful firefighting punch of water and a good place to store ladders, but with every choice come the down sides.  Because of the large tank and tunnel for the ladders the hose bed is very far off the ground.  The hose bed holds a couple thousand feet of different sizes of hose and being this far above a firefighter's head makes the hose difficult and dangerous to deploy.  Another downside of the large tank is that the compartments for holding equipment are shallow.  This makes it difficult to store some of the equipment that needs to be carried now.  There is also a surprising amount of empty space that can not be accessed in the body with the current design.

So, what's the solution?  Hoodland Fire has entered into a contract with Fire Trucks Unlimited in Henderson, Nevada to rework the body portion.  They are a leader in fire truck rebuilding and were recommended by our Pierce dealer. The vehicle has been delivered to them by local trucking company Purdy's.  Shortly, Hoodland Fire personnel will travel to Fire Trucks Unlimited and work with their engineers to come up with the best plan for making this a more useful rig.  The basic plan is to reduce the water tank size to about 750 gallons and change its configuration from a square to an "L" shaped tank.  This will allow the hose bed to be lowered several feet.  The ladder storage will be removed from the tank and a hydraulic ladder rack will be installed similar to other HFD fire engines.  The compartments at the rear of the engine will be reworked for more cubic feet of space and if possible  the other compartments will be reworked to be deeper.  Some of the emergency lighting will be updated as replacements parts are not available any more.  While the exact cost of this work is still likely to change the current contract with Fire Trucks Unlimited calls for this to cost a little over $200,000.  This money is coming out of the apparatus reserve fund that has been carefully managed to keep the fleet modern without asking for extra tax money.

Once completed E352 will spend a lot more time working out of the main station in Welches as E351 and will be the primary response vehicle of the on duty crews.  It is Hoodland Fire's only two wheel drive type 1 engine so it will be used during the time of year when road conditions are good. This will allow the four wheel drive rigs to take a break and extend their useful lives also.  The current engine running out of the main station is a 2013 model and already has over 70,000 miles on it.

Work will begin in March and it is expected to return in mid to late summer so it can continue serving the Hoodland community for years to come.

4. Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendars 
  • Hoodland Fire Monthly Board Meeting
    • Date: January 14, 2025
    • Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • Location: Main Station, 69634 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR
    • Details: Our Board of Directors meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM.  The public is always invited to attend.  If you have something to add, "Persons to be Heard"  is at the beginning of each meeting.  
  • Main Station 351 Replacement Project Open House & Fire Station Tour
    • Date: January 23, 2025
    • Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    • Location: Main Station, 69634 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR
    • Details: Join us for tours of the fire station, learn about the replacement project, and provide feedback.
A sign saying "UNDER CONSTRUCTION" with a hard hat, traffic cones, and caution barrier.
  • Hoodland Fire Student Program – Application Deadline April 18, 2025. The Hoodland Fire Student Program offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience, receive specialized training, and develop valuable skills in firefighting, emergency medical services, and community safety
    • What We Offer:
      • Training: Comprehensive training in firefighting, emergency medical services, and safety protocols
      • Hands-On Experience: Work directly with experienced professionals in real-world emergency response scenarios.
      • Tuition Reimbursement: Assistance with tuition costs to help further your education
      • Stipend: Financial support to help with living expenses.
      • Housing: Living accommodations during the program.
      • Important Dates:
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5. Emergency Preparedness

BE READY FOR SEVERE WINTER

Winter months bring unique challenges, including snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Proper winter emergency preparedness can make all the difference when a storm or power outage strikes. Here are some key tips to help you prepare for the cold months ahead:

  • Prepare for Power Outages: Winter storms can often cause power outages. Be sure to:
    • Stock up on supplies: Keep enough batteries, flashlights, candles, and matches on hand.
    • Have an alternate heat source: If you use electric heat, have a secondary heat source like a wood stove, propane heater, or battery-powered heater.
    • Charge devices in advance: Ensure your cell phone and other important devices are fully charged when a storm is expected.
  • Prepare Your Vehicle:
    • Keep a winter emergency kit in your car: This should include blankets, extra clothes, non-perishable snacks, water, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and a shovel.
    • Check tires and antifreeze: Ensure that your tires are in good condition and that your vehicle's antifreeze levels are appropriate for freezing temperatures.
    • Keep your gas tank at least half full: This prevents the fuel line from freezing and ensures you have enough fuel if you get stuck.
  • Create a Winter Emergency Kit:
    An emergency kit is essential in case you get stuck at home or stranded on the road. Include:
    • A portable charger for electronics
    • Bottled water and canned or dried food
    • A battery-powered radio to stay updated on weather and emergency alerts
    • Extra blankets and warm clothing
    • A first aid kit and necessary medications
    • Rock salt or sand to treat icy walkways and driveways
  • Know When to Stay Indoors:
    • During severe winter weather, avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors as much as possible. If you must go outside, dress in layers, wear appropriate clothing, and limit your exposure to the cold to avoid frostbite or hypothermia.

6. Member Spotlight

Two firefighters in gear sitting on grass, one smiling at the camera, with hoses and equipment.
Natalie Hanson
Student Firefighter

When did you join the team?

I joined Hoodland Fire in the summer of 2023.

Most memorable moment with HFD?

The most memorable moment is helping to dig a hydrant out of the snow while flaming ash from Timberline lodge floated down towards us.

How has HFD changed you?

Honestly HFD has changed me a lot. Besides getting a lot stronger physically and mentally, I have been able to come out of my shell and become more confident in my abilities.

What's your favorite part about being a member of HFD?

My favorite part about being a member in the fire district is the support and trust that I receive there. I also appreciate the opportunities that I have been given by being a student here, the education and hands on experience is one of the most rewarding parts.

What's your day job?

My day job is being a firefighter on shift or going to school, I don't have enough time to dedicate myself to another job.

What's your favorite snack?

My favorite snack is green tea and trail mix.

7. Contact Information

STAY CONNECTED WITH US

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

We are so fortunate to have such an engaged and supportive community. Here’s to a safe and successful 2025!

Stay safe,
The Hoodland Fire District #74 Team

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