SPRI N G 2 0 1 5 | VOL . 23, I SSUE 1
NEWS FROM DESCHUTES COUNTY
RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #2
WHAT WILL
THE LEVY DO
FOR YOU?
ast May the voters of the fire district passed a levy that added 20 cents per $1,000 of value to fund fire operations. The city of Bend also passed a levy that matched that 20 cent
rate for residents of the City. Even before the funds started arriving, the Bend Fire & Rescue
management team began looking at the most efficient way to use these new resources.
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The first task was to bring the department up to the same level of personnel that existed eight years ago. This spring ten new
career firefighters were brought on to fill vacancies from retirements and bring staffing up to levels that existed prior to the
recession. Filling the vacancies will reduce overtime and reduce firefighter fatigue. The new firefighters will also fill crews that have
been operating shorthanded due to lack of funds. These new firefighters are currently going through an eight-week academy, and
then they will be required to complete a one-year probationary period before they become fully fledged firefighters.
A new concept will be implemented in the Prevention Division that will aid in keeping emergency response units available for
incoming calls. Two new positions were added which will allow for the operation of a single person unit to respond to reports of
smoke, alarm activations, and illegal open burns. Previously, these types of calls would have typically had a three person crew
respond in an engine.
continued On page 2
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S I GSNI GUNP UTPO TROE RC E CI VEEI VHEO HT OSTP SO PT OS TNSE NWESWL ES TL TE ET RT ES RDSI GDIITGAI LT AL YL LAYT ADTC DR CF RP DF P2 D. C2O. CMO M
GRANTS FOR FUEL
REDUCTION AVAILABLE
What will the Levy Do for you
continued from page 1
The concept of this new strategy is to keep crews in
station to respond to high-level emergencies. This
new type of unit called Support Response Vehicles
(SRVs) will be staffed by inspectors who can provide
fire education, complete inspections, investigate alarm
activations and assist crews with
large-scale emergencies.
A
common observation in the fire service is that it is
cheaper to fight a fire before it starts. With that in mind,
the District has made grants available to groups who are
willing to reduce the risk of wildfire in their area. These grants
may be just the impetus needed for a neighborhood to take
action to protect themselves and their neighbors. The grants,
available from DCRFPD #2, have helped fund a variety of
projects. One grant reimbursed volunteers for fuel costs
after they had picked up yard debris for seniors and shut-ins.
The next phase involving additional staff will be
implenting the new concept of basic life support
ambulance crews or BLS units (described in a later
article in this newsletter).
The voters in the district, through their vote on the levy
last spring, have identified emergency services as being
a priority and these new innovations in operations are
an effort to get the most from these funds. If you or your
group would like an update or to check in to see how
these ideas may affect you, please feel free to call the
District office at 541-318-0459.
RIGHT
RESOURCES
RIGHT PLACE
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edical emergencies make up over 80% of Bend Fire and Rescue calls every year. The current plan to handle
these calls requires at least one paramedic on fire engines
and ambulances at all times. This makes the responding
teams capable of handling any medical emergency while on
scene and during transport. These types of medical units are
referred to as Advanced Life Support (ALS) units. Becoming
a paramedic requires a two-year associate’s degree and a
minimum of 48 hours of continued training every two years in
order to maintain certification.
The stressor on the current system is the high number of
medical calls responded to by Bend Fire and Rescue that
do not require ALS care. As the department considered
possible deployment changes utilizing levy funds, multiple
systems from all over the United States were considered
and evaluated. One tiered type of program used by several
agencies in California was presented as a possible answer
and from which a new tiered medical system was developed.
This new system will provide two levels of care. The ALS units
will handle life threatening calls and Basic Life Support (BLS)
units will handle less serious types of medical calls.
The BLS units will utilize Emergency Medical Technicians
(EMTs) and will be more efficient for the majority of medical
HOT SPOTS | VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 1
Another grant helped provide dumpsters in a neighborhood so residents could dispose of yard debris. If you feel you have
a worthy project, you can obtain an application for defensible space grants by contacting the District office at 541-318-0459.
We ask that you contact the Prevention Division of Bend Fire and Rescue for help in assessing your community and providing grant
recommendations. Bend Fire Prevention Division can be reached at 541-322-6300. Remember, priority will be given to projects that provide
the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In most cases, the grant will require the applicant to supply either time, energy or financial
resources to match the grant award. An active Firewise community will be given higher priority.
calls to which Bend Fire and Rescue responds. EMTs will be
hired as limited term employees for a period not to exceed
three years, which will allow the City to pay a reduced rate
while still providing the highest level of customer service
possible.
EMTs will be accompanied by paramedics in a Quick
Response Vehicle (QRV) or in an engine on all calls. If a
Basic Life Support call escalates into an Advanced Life
Support response, the QRV medic, or the paramedic on
the engine, can provide direct clinical oversight to ensure
appropriate triage by the EMTs. Assessment, treatment
interventions, and transport are provided for all patients. A
QRV Medic can serve dual roles by being able to join an
engine crew to provide staffing necessary to assist in a
fire emergency.
A major consideration in switching to this new plan was
the need for these new employees to be non-represented
to keep costs down. The local firefighters union was in full
support of this idea and participated in the development
of the system. Through a collaborative effort of the Bend
Firefighters Association and the City of Bend, the two parties
came together and saw this concept as a cost-effective way
to provide excellent medical care and free up the advanced
units for critical emergencies. Both parties also agreed that,
in order to fulfill obligations to the citizens of Bend, response
times needed to improve. Implementing a BLS unit, at slightly
more than half the cost of a fully manned paramedic unit, will
ensure faster response times in two ways - more personnel
will be on the roads, and the right resources will be sent
to the right call. Overall, the system will improve Fire/EMS
availability and station reliability throughout the city.
While this system is based on models used elsewhere,
it has been modified for use in our area; with the QRV
concept being a completely new idea. The program will be
evaluated continually to make sure goals are being met.
Other departments in the Northwest will also be observing the
program to measure its effectiveness and assess whether it
would be appropriate for their department.
As the City of Bend continues to grow, so will the call volume.
By implementing the tiered EMS system this spring, it will
allow for improved use of our response assets, which will also
result in a higher degree of long-term fiscal sustainability. We
are implementing the tiered EMS system to provide citizens of
Bend with the best Fire and medical coverage possible.
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IS YOUR HOME READY FOR
WILDFIRE SEASON?
Save the dates for upcoming FireFree Recycling Events!
D
ata collected while putting together the Bend Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) reveals that nearly 19,361 homes are
currently designated at “High” or “Very High” risk for wildfire damage. For all of Deschutes County, the number of residents at extreme or
high risk is 92,079. There are some simple steps you can take to prepare your home and community for the upcoming fire season.
Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80% chance of
surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance. Those are great odds and FireFree encourages residents to take that bet and get
prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Now is the time to clean up your yards, create defensible spaces around homes, and recycle that
debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Deschutes County.
Knott Landfill | May 1 - 9 (CLOSED ON MAY 3)
In Bend
Bend WestsidE | May 1 - 2, 8 - 9
Off of Simpson in Bend
QUICK Facts
Outdoor burning
requires you have a copy of regulations. (Available
at any fire station or online at our website.) You
need to call the burning information number on the
day you intend to burn.
Burning information
541-322-6335
Bend Fire Department business
541-322-6300
Deschutes County Rural Fire
Protection District #2 office
541-318-0459
Information
on fire inspections, plan review, hazardous
materials and fire prevention.
541-322-6300
Deschutes County transfer Sites | May 15 - 16
Address sign applications
541-318-0459
Negus Transfer Station in Redmond
Northwest Transfer Station in Cloverdale (Sisters)
FireFree reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone,” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires, and
vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences can spread flames to your home. Do take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to
dispose of the debris for FREE.
To report fires, including illegal outside
burns, call 9-1-1.
Fire District meetings
are scheduled the second Tuesday of each month.
Please call 541-318-0459 to verify date, time and place.
Where are your most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite your home?
Are your gutters and roof valleys free from debris like pine needles and leaves? Clean them out. Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides the necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.
Do your shrubs and weeds provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home? Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting nearby trees or your home.
What can catch fire on your deck or patio or near your fence? Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence. This includes toys, planters, construction materials, patio furniture, and cushions, along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.
Is your woodpile near your home or other combustible vegetation? Move woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your home or other combustibles.
Visit the FireFree website at
www.firefree.org for more
information about how
you can prepare your
property for
wildfire season.
S I G N U P T O R E C E I V E H O T S P O T S N E W S L E T T E R S D I G I TA L LY AT D C R F P D 2 . C O M
INFORMATION ONLINE
website: www.dcrfpd2.com
Check our website for additional information including
burning regulations, annexation procedures
and press releases.
e-mail: [email protected]
BOARD &
ADMINISTRATION
Ken Goodnight - President
541-306-9541
George Roshak - Vice President
541-318-0459
Kent Haarberg - Secretary/Treasurer
541-385-5480
Ray Miao - Director
541-383-3905
Dick Ridenour - Director 541-389-3135
Tom Fay - Executive Director 541-318-0459
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Deschutes County Rural
Fire Protection District #2
1212 SW Simpson Ave.
Bend, Oregon 97702
541-318-0459
PRSRT STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BEND, OR
PERMIT NO. 348
What is cwpp?
Address Sign Program
You can help determine priorities
for wildfire protection.
ost addresses in the fire district have
signs that meet county regulations.
Those regulations require homeowners to
display signs visible from the street with
lettering 4” high. While the ordinance does
not require the signs to be purchased through
the fire district, the district signs cost only
$15.00, are on heat resistant metal, and
made with reflective material so they can be
seen at night or in smoky or foggy conditions.
The small cost includes installation on a
metal post. Once these signs are installed,
they belong to you and replacement is your
responsibility in case of theft or damage. You
can print an application by going online to
www.dcrfpd2.com or request an application
be sent to you by calling 318-0459.
T
he Greater Bend Area Community
Wildfire Protection Plan is set to be edited
and revised in the fall of 2015. Community
Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are
planning documents that help the local
agency personnel choose where they are
going to treat fuels to lessen the wildfire
risk in surrounding areas of Bend. Having
community input for these edits are crucial to
the plan being relevant to the local agencies.
These plans also help dictate which areas
are the highest risk, and if those areas will be
fitting candidates for grant funding. Having
local residents at CWPP meetings gives great
insight to the local area and to your specific
neighborhood. If you would like to be added
to the mailing list for this process, or have any
questions, feel free to call Alison Green with
Project Wildfire at 541-322-7129.
HOT SPOTS | VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 1
Photography by Scott NElson
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