|
The Office of the Fire Marshal is responsible for coordinating
all Fire Prevention and Community Safety programs and activities. These
activities comprise the many non-emergency services that the
department provides to the citizens of the City and the three
contract districts. In addition to fire code enforcement
activities, the department has expanded its education and prevention
goals of teaching people how to prevent fire and how to take
proper actions in case of fire, to include teaching people to
prevent many different types of accidents, CPR, emergency first
aid, disaster preparedness and other life safety education opportunities
and services.
Programs managed by our prevention team include some of the
following:
FIRE
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Code requirements are those minimum standards designed to secure
the interests of public safety, health, and general welfare of
all types of structures. The primary role of the code enforcement
team is to prevent fires and eliminate hazards that could affect
public safety. While they can issue citations, their primary
goal is for problems to be fixed by the property owner.
RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS
Find out more about residential fire sprinklers and what you should know about it.
FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION IN ALL LAKE
OSWEGO SCHOOLS
All Elementary children in grades K-6 receive Fire Safety Education. Topics
include: Baby-sitting Safety; Flammable Liquid Safety; Electrical
Safety; Home Fire Escape Planning, Home Fire Safety Inspections
and Exit Drills in the Home.
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
TEAMS (CERT)
Designed for neighborhood associations and community citizens
at large, this is a seven-week program we offer to educate and
prepare our community for the risk of natural disasters. Participants
are taught how to prepare themselves and their families in the
event of a widespread disaster such as an earthquake, and are
taught how to organize into neighborhood teams to help their
fellow citizens until professional help is available. Six
weeks are spent in learning about disasters, incident command,
how to suppress small fires with extinguishers, how to recognize
a hazardous material and create safe zones for the public, first
aid training, search and rescue and lastly disaster psychology. The
seventh week is a disaster simulation where the participants
evaluate the safety of the scene, rescue trapped victims, suppress
fires, set up safe areas and use make shift tools and supplies. Begun
in 1995, over 500 citizens, school district, local business and
City employees have received the training thus far.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING
FOR CITIZENS
This class is intended for the general public and businesses,
and provides hands on training on how to use a fire extinguisher. Information
about the various types of fires and extinguishers is discussed
and a live fire is used for training.
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
In accordance with state laws, personnel from the Division
of Prevention and Community Services investigate all fires in
Lake Oswego for cause and origin determination. We work
closely with the state and City police departments in this area.
CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
TRAINING
These classes can be arranged for businesses or other groups
of ten or more. This is the American Heart Association
Course that covers choking and CPR for adults, children, and
infants, prudent heart living, and signs and symptoms of heart
attacks.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTIONS
We began providing this service in 1996 and partnered with
the Lake Oswego Police Department to provide quarterly clinics. It
is intended for those automobile drivers who transport children
that require child safety seats in their vehicles. Four
times a year we offer this drive through clinic at our main fire
station located at 300 B Avenue where parents and others responsible
for the transportation of children can have the child safety
restraint inspected for proper installation, as well as provided
with information regarding defects and recalls, etc. We
have found that as many as 80% of all child safety seats are
installed improperly. Clinics are generally held in a four-hour
time block. Each vehicle can take up to 20 minutes to inspect.
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY TRAINING
This two and one-half hour class is not a component of the
CERT program, but is intended to introduce civic groups, neighborhood
associations and other adult groups with a detailed look at the
types of earthquakes possible in our region, and how they can
affect our everyday lives. Training and information is provided
on how to best prepare themselves, their families and their homes
and businesses in the event of an earthquake.
JUVENILE FIRESETTER INTERVENTION
The Fire Department assists parents, schools, law enforcement
and other agencies in dealing with fire setters. The Department
does not provide counseling for the issues a juvenile may be
dealing with that contribute to the fire setting behavior. But
the intervention can help discover what level of fire setting
or “fire play” the juvenile is at and provide information
to responsible parties on the best method of help they have as
options. The Department provides an assessment to determine
the severity of the problem and works with those who are in a
curiosity level through providing specific education both for
the juvenile and the family.
SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM
A free smoke detector is available to elderly and low income citizens at the Main Fire Station. If a citizen is in need of assistance with installation, battery changes or inspection of a smoke detector, they may call the Main Station at (503) 635-0275.
A new State law on January 1, 2002 mandated that all smoke detectors sold or installed must have a 10-yar lithium battery. Lake Oswego Fire issues only 10-year lithium battery smoke detectors.
BOY SCOUT/GIRL SCOUT FIRE SAFETY AND FIRST AID
This is a general class taught by department members designed
for scout troops. The course includes discussing fire hazards
and safety, CPR and basic first aid.
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS
Free blood pressure checks are available at any of the four
neighborhood fire stations. No appointment is necessary.
FIRE STATION TOURS
We regularly provide tours of our neighborhood fire stations
as a part of our public safety education programs for groups
with a minimum of 5 people. If you would like to arrange a tour
of your neighborhood station, please call our Main station at
503-635-0275.
Station locations for tours:
Main Fire Station
300 B Avenue
Jean Road Station
4555 Jean Road
South Shore Station
1880 South Shore Boulevard
Westlake Station
4900 Melrose Street
|
