Latest news with #RickGraves
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fourth of July brings high fire risks, Portland Fire and Rescue says
PORTLAND, Ore. () – Though temperatures are cooler than in recent years, fire officials are warning that the risk for fire is still high ahead of Independence Day. Just this week, Portland Fire and Rescue responded to a blaze started with fireworks. They have also responded to multiple brush fires already this summer that were not fireworks-related, PF&R said. While the temperatures are not as warm this year, Rick Graves with PF&R said the threat of fire is still great. Waterfront Blues Festival 2025: How to get there 'Regardless of our ambient temperature, we've got dry conditions,' he said. 'We also have tall vegetation that's ready to go. So there's no need to have an additional strain and stress as a result of someone using personalized fireworks for their enjoyment.' If you're planning to grill outside, Graves said to be aware. Do not leave your barbecue close to a structure or under a tree, and never leave it unattended. Lillian Hergenhan lives next to what was the Heidi Manor apartment complex. On the Fourth of July four years ago, a firework left in the trash sparked a blaze that killed three people and destroyed the building. She said every time she hears a firework, the memories rush back. 'I was just walking in my neighborhood and I started to hear them, and I had like, I went into panic mode, because it was horrific to see this fire and then also hear fireworks still going on around,' she said. 'And, you know, you also hear like, fire alarms going off. It's really scary.' Graves said people need to consider these consequences, even if they live in a city where fireworks are legal. 'It does not take much,' he said. 'One tiny, little green, colorful spark going off the cone that smells like sulfur right into the dry grass. And next thing you know, the fields going, they're just not safe, even if your community permits them. I don't really advocate for it.' This week, officials launched an online fireworks reporting line for anyone in the Multnomah County area. The hope is to avoid overloading 911 with calls. Since going live at 1:00 Tuesday morning, they have already gotten almost 500 reports. 'It's allowing us to see hotspots, which we've seen,' Graves said. 'There's some concentrated spots that might allow us in the future to do a better job of either education or maybe having the ability to focus, enforcement in those hotspots areas.' Graves said if you've bought fireworks and want to return them now, you can take them to any PF&R station where they will hold onto them and safely deal with them after the holiday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bodies found in Portland area rivers ‘pretty normal occurrence'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Nine bodies have been recovered in Portland metro rivers so far in 2025, including a kayaker who disappeared over the Willamette Falls in April. , who jumped out of his kayak and tried to swim to shore before disappearing over Willamette Falls late on April 12, was found Sunday along the shore in a Gladstone park. He was 20. As the temperatures keep rising, officials said, there will likely be more bodies recovered in area waters. North Portland ralliers: 'We are not a Sacrifice Zone' were recovered by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and one by Clackamas County deputies in the past two months. Those bodies were found: April 13: Willamette River near Swan Island April 15: Multnomah Channel April 18: Willamette River April 24: Columbia River April 30: Willamette River May 3: Willamette River May 3: Columbia River near moorage off NE Marine Drive May 4: Willamette River Portland Fire & Rescue assisted on search missions for these bodies and said there's a reason so many bodies are resurfacing at this time. 'With the temperature change, you get water density changes and buoyancy factors change within the bodies that are in the river at the river bottom,' said PFR Lt. Rick Graves. 'And as the density changes, as the buoyancy factor changes, they just simply float to the surface It's a pretty normal occurrence for us.' Graves said bodies will be on the surface of the river for a period of time 'and then they'll just basically sink directly down. In fact, if you have a spot (where someone was) last seen, you could go downstream about 10-12 feet and go straight down. Oftentimes that's right where they'll be.' And as temperatures rise, more people get out onto the river to fish or boat, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said. That brings more eyes on the water to spot a body. Auto prowling incident now tied to Vancouver weekend shooting Graves also said the big boats that come in for Fleet Week 'stirs up the entire bottom. That sometimes will allow a few more bodies to rise to the surface.' Authorities also told KOIN 6 News this number of bodies found this year is common. In 2017, the sheriff's office said they recover an average of 30-50 bodies from area rivers each year. KOIN 6 News asked if that number has increased over time and have not yet had a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Portland firefighters called to remove titanium smart ring from woman's finger
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Fire & Rescue firefighters were called to perform an emergency ring removal on Feb. 15 after a woman's finger swelled up around an Oura smart ring that was too tough to remove with basic tools. Four cats taken to Portland animal hospital with suspected bird flu A special firefighter crew was called to an urgent care center in East Portland around noon Saturday after hospital staff and an initial firefighter crew that responded to the emergency were unable to remove the ring, Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson Rick Graves told KOIN. 'The initial 911 call was taken by a truck company near the Lloyd Center, but it turned out their equipment wasn't robust enough to address this incident,' Graves said. 'So one of the heavy rescues in the city responded to assist.' The ring's titanium shell and electronic circuitry were too tough to cut with a spinning ring-cutter, PF&R said. The unique job required a diamond-tipped blade only carried by two PF&R crews. 'The outer shell of titanium and inner componentry were far too much for a traditional hand spinning ring-cutter,' PF&R shared on social media. '[Firefighters used] a diamond-tipped blade on a handheld rotary tool along with some modified silverware to act as a protective shield and a little water to keep everything cooled off.' Could Portland see more February snow? It's unclear what caused the woman's hand to swell around the smart ring. PF&R firefighters successfully removed the ring with the diamond-tipped equipment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
