New Fire Chief

Chief Nelson Badge Ceremony

It’s official. Greg Nelson is our new Fire Chief. Mayor Jerry Willey presented Chief Nelson with his new Fire Chief’s badge Tuesday night at City Council meeting. Chief Nelson’s wife, Joann, pinned on the shiny new badge. She was accompanied by the couple’s son. Chief Nelson was selected by City leadership following an unsuccessful national search for a suitable successor to retired Fire Chief Gary Seidel. Following the badge ceremony, nearly 75 people attended a reception in Chief Nelson’s honor at the Civic Center.

Nelson has worked more than 30 years at the Department. He’s held every rank en route to the top spot.

Jones Farm Station

As soon as the rains let up (whenever that will be is anyone's guess), contractors should begin site preparation on Hillsboro Fire and Rescue’s newest fire station. The facility will replace the aging and too small Parkwood Station which does not meet seismic requirements for public safety building. The new station, which will be called the Jones Farm Fire Station, will be located on NE 25th on property leased from the Port of Portland’s Hillsboro Airport just east of the Jones Farm neighborhood and Intel Jones Farm.

The winning contract bidder, P&C Construction of Portland is slated to complete the $3.2-million contract by December 2011. Architects from Group MacKenzie of Portland designed the 13,458-square foot facility. Funding for the station comes from Recovery Zone bonds issued by the City of Hillsboro in December 2010. The firefighters’ positions at Station No. 5 are funded by the Local Option Tax. Those firefighters will move their existing fire engine to the new station when it is completed.

Primate Center Chemical Leak Prompts Haz Mat Response

Here is an example of how Automatic Aid works with fire departments. Even though the following incident occured in the City of Hillsboro, the closest responder and the specialty teams needed were crews from our neighboring agency, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. While the majority of the resources were from TVF&R, our Battalion Chief and an HFD engine company were there to support and provide any additional Hillsboro resources needed.



News Release
A chlorine gas leak prompted the evacuation of an Oregon National Primate Center building in Hillsboro Wednesday morning along with a response from firefighters and a Hazardous Materials Team. The incident began shortly before nine when Primate Center employees reported a chemical leak. The closest emergency responders, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s (TVF&R) Engine 64 from their Somerset Station, arrived minutes later. They requested additional resources, including an engine from Hillsboro Fire Department and the regional hazardous materials response team from TVF&R.

TVF&R firefighters entered the building known as the Animal Services ABSL3 building, located on the south side of the campus and found two four-foot tall chlorine cylinders strapped to a cart. They shut off the flow of chlorine and began monitoring the air quality inside the building. The Hazardous Materials Team later removed the two tanks from the building and continued to monitor the air quality inside the building’s hallways.

Primate Center Health and Safety workers say they were preparing to disinfect a laboratory area with chlorine when one worker said she heard an unusual pop from the chlorine tank’s regulator as she opened the tank’s valve. She began smelling chlorine gas. She quickly activated the building’s safety system, evacuated fellow workers and sheltered the primates in place. The safety systems include a positive air flow ventilation system that prevented the leaked chlorine gas in the hallway from entering any of the rooms occupied by the primates. No one was injured. Firefighters began winding up their operation and turning the scene back over to Primate Center employees shortly before noon.

Patriot Flag on Display

A huge American flag that is traveling back and forth across the country is on display this week at Hillsboro Fire Department’s Station 3, 4455 NW 229th Avenue. The 30-foot by 58-foot Patriot Flag honors those who perished during the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

“We are honored to display this flag,” said Hillsboro Fire Chief Gary Seidel. “It’s our hope that Hillsboro citizens will drop by and sign the guest book that is traveling with the flag and let others know that we have not forgotten those who gave their lives on September 11th, 2001.”

Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey signed a proclamation marking today as Patriot Flag Day in Hillsboro. The folded flag display in the fire station training from December 28th trough 30th will also have a huge flag remnant on which the organizers are collecting signatures and remembrances. Visitors can read the log book and see where the flag has been as well as see photos of its journey. The flag will be on display at the Station 3 training room from 11 to 1 pm on Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, December 31st, once the current series of storms break, Hillsboro firefighters will raise the huge flag at 8:00 am from a ladder truck in front of their fire station and pay proper respects. The public is invited to attend.

The flag began its journey in San Diego on September 10, 2010. It will travel to all 50 states before it flies during the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The flag is part of the World Memorial, an effort to build a museum to commemorate all those who died on 9/11 and all those who came to Ground Zero for rescue and recovery efforts. For more information, visit www.thepatriotflag.us or www.world-memorial.org.

HFD Cherry Lane Station 6 Dedication – September 11, 2010

Hillsboro Fire and Rescue formally dedicated the Cherry Lane Fire Station No. 6 in a ceremony held on Saturday, September 11, 2010. More than 300 people attended the event which included an open house and station tours.

The 16,000 square foot facility went into operation August 2nd and has averaged between four and five calls a day. It was built to serve the eastern portions of the City of Hillsboro where response times were exceeding our goal of four minutes 75% of the time. A career crew will staff this station 24/7. The facility will also be home to the 25 Volunteer Firefighters as well as the Training staff. The 56 seat smart classroom will providing valuable training for the more than 70 fire, rescue and medical certifications that firefighters seek and retain.

Fire Chief Gary Seidel was away in Pennsylvania taking part in the 9/11 Memorial ceremonies. In his place, Deputy Chief Sam Phillips outlined the station’s importance to the city and to the regional public safety network.

The station was dedicated in honor of all those firefighters who risked their lives in service to the citizens of Hillsboro and to the late James Gentry. Chaplain Gentry came to work at Hillsboro Fire Department and formed the first chaplain’s corp. He laid the groundwork for what is now an integral part of our service to the community. A chaplain is dispatched to every working fire, every major motor vehicle accident--any type of incident in which there has been a significant traumatic injury or death--to help the survivors deal with the emotional trauma that they may have incurred. The chaplains also are there to support our firefighters following sometimes horrific or tragic incident.

Our day included cake, cookies, coffee and fun for the kids. We appreciate the support of the citizens who authorized the Local Option Levy which helps pay the salaries of the firefighters who staff this station. We pledge to provide caring and compassionate service by highly trained men and women. You deserve nothing less than our best.

Thanks for 100 Years of Service!

Typically, when you think of 100 years of service, you think of an institution. But, in this case, I’m talking about three Hillsboro Firefighters who are retiring at about the same time. Perhaps, you could call them an institution, come to think of it. Together, they represent 100 years in the fire service. Wednesday evening, August 18th, colleagues gathered to honor Lieutenants Larry Yakymi and Brad Kastner along with Engineer Brad Lepley for their combined century of serving the citizens of Hillsboro.

From Yak Kastner Lepley retirement

The soiree occurred at Cornelius Pass Roadhouse and featured endless stories from coworkers, chiefs, and union brothers and sisters. They bestowed gifts and plaques, including a gift that fellow firefighters sealed inside of a granite boulder for Larry Yakymi. The former Urban Search & Rescue/Technical Rescue team member took a few swings with a sledge hammer, but was unable to crack the granite. We’ll check back some day in the future to see if he ever got his gift out.

Besides the colleagues, families and staff who gathered to wish the trio a happy retirement, 21 previous retirees showed up to share in the festivities and stay connected with their former organization. All 24 retirees posed for a photo and we estimate the talent in this photo below represents more than 700 years of firefighting experience! Happy retirement Brad, Brad and Larry!

From Yak Kastner Lepley retirement

Fill the Boot 2010

From Fill the Boot 2010

Help Hillsboro Firefighters help Jerry’s Kids! HFD members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2210 took to the streets on Friday 8/12 and Friday 8/13 to raise funds for research for a cure to Muscular Dystrophy. The reference to Jerry’s Kids comes from long time comedian and Muscular Dystrophy Association supporter Jerry Lewis.

The firefighters collected donations on 10th between Oak and Baseline and also at the Shute on-ramps to Oregon Highway 26 from 4 – 7 pm on Thursday. On Friday they are at the intersection of SE Brookwood and East Main and at the 185th on-ramp to Hwy 26 from 4-7 pm.

All donations collected during the Fill-The-Boot will help fund local MDA programs and services, including support groups and equipment such as wheel chairs and leg braces. The proceeds also support clinics at Oregon Health and Science University and Shriners Hospital for Children and help send Oregon children with muscle wasting diseases to MDA summer camp each year.

From Fill the Boot 2010

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. The majority of contributions to MDA come from individual donors.

Elsewhere across the Metro area will also be out in force this week to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
*Clackamas: Friday at SE 82nd Ave/ Causey; Saturday at Mollala Ave/ Gaffney Ln, Oregon City
*Gresham: Division and Eastman Pkwy; Friday/ Saturday 9-5
*Portland: SE 122nd Ave/ Stark; W Burnside/ 23rd Ave, Thursday/ Friday, 3-6:30
*Vancouver: Fourth Plain/ Andresen; 162 Ave./ NE 18th St.; Thursday/ Friday, noon-4