Mobile Water Supply

While spring is taking a break and winter is making its last gasp, Hillsboro Firefighters are preparing for summer. Brush and wild land fires are more common during the warm weather and to fight those fires, firefighters need a mobile water supply when they are operating in areas not served by a municipal water supply. Handling a Tender filled with up to 3,000 gallons of water can be a chore. Besides being heavy, water sloshes from side to side and dramatically affects the center of gravity of the vehicle.



Nearly 150 firefighters died while driving water tenders in the United States during the period 1998-2007. The National Fire Protection Association says four out of five of the fatalities occurred while responding to or returning from a fire emergency. Most were single vehicle accidents. That’s why our Firefighters are practicing driving Tender 104 in tight spaces and around obstacles at the Washington County Fairgrounds this week. We want them to be able to respond to your fire quickly and safely.

Celebrate Red Cross Month by Giving

From Red Cross Month

Governor Ted Kulongoski has issued a proclamation that March is Red Cross Month in Oregon. Hillsboro Fire and Rescue joins in celebrating this month and acknowledges the valuable support the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross continues to provide to our citizens. The Red Cross is the agency we call to provide immediate help and housing to residents whose apartment or home has been damaged or destroyed by fire and have no other means, such as insurance, on which to fall back.

The Red Cross provides volunteer Disaster Assistance Teams whenever we call them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These self-less citizens come to the aid of others who have just experienced one of the worst days of their lives. They work hand-in-hand with our Chaplains to provide food, shelter, health and mental health services.

They tirelessly have promoted and taught basic swimming skills and provided classes in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In addition, the Red Cross joins Hillsboro's Emergency Managers in promoting emergency preparedness so that citizens will have the means and skills to survive in the event that Oregonians are faced with an earthquake of the magnitude that has occurred recently in Haiti and Chile. For more information on this non-profit organization and to make a donation that supports local disaster victims or those of international disasters, visit:
www.oregonredcross.org.