This evening, at about 5:42 p.m., emergency services responded to a 911 call regarding a water rescue at Jurgens Park in Tualatin. Initial reports indicated that a man who was recreating with family on the Tualatin River had gone underwater and had not resurfaced.

Multiple agencies, including Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Lake Oswego Fire, Tualatin Police, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, and American Medical Response were dispatched to coordinate rescue efforts. First responders used dive teams, drone support, and personnel on watercraft to search the water. It was reported that other recreators on the water were also searching for the missing man.

At 6:17 p.m., with the help of search tools including underwater cameras, TVF&R crews located the man's body in murky water not far from where he was reported to have last been seen. Firefighters brought him to shore where he was examined by paramedics. Sadly, he had not survived after being underwater for that amount of time and was not wearing a life jacket. A TVF&R chaplain also responded to provide on-scene support.

As we enjoy the summer months and water activities, TVF&R urges everyone to prioritize safety to prevent tragic incidents. Please:

• Wear Life Jackets: Always wear a properly fitted life jacket when boating or participating in water activities.
• Use the Buddy System: Never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy for added safety.
• Check Water Conditions: Be aware of water conditions, currents, and weather forecasts before entering the water.
• Follow Posted Signs and Warnings: Respect all signs and warnings about water conditions, hazards, and rules.

In addition to an increase in medical calls related to heat exposure, firefighters have been busy with weather related incidents. TVF&R has added additional units during the hot weather. 

DROWNING IN WEST LINN
Just before 3p.m., a caller to 911 reported a person flailing in the water near the dock at the West Linn boat ramp in the 2000 block of Volpp Street. The 911 caller stated that the person had gone under the water and was no longer visible. Firefighters from TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team located at the nearby Willamette fire station arrived within minutes, and rescue swimmers began searching. Despite deep, murky water, rescuers located an adult male, pulled him out of the water, and began resuscitation efforts. Sadly, he did not survive. Law enforcement will not be releasing the drowning victim’s name until their family has been notified.

BRUSH FIRE IN 32000 BLOCK OF SW FIRDALE ROAD, UNINCORPORATED WASHINGTON COUNTY
Just after 3p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a fast-moving brush fire in the 32000 block of SW Firdale Road. Since the fire was near structures, and there were no fire hydrants in the area, the incident commander upgraded the incident to a second alarm to bring a sufficient number of firefighters and 4x4 brush vehicles to surround and contain the fire. Firefighters protected nearby structures and worked for two hours to mop up and ensure all hot spots were extinguished.

BRUSH FIRE NEAR SW SCHOLLS SHERWOOD AND SW ROY ROGERS ROADS, UNINCORPORATED WASHINGTON COUNTY
While crews were still working at the Firdale Road fire, another brush fire started in an unincorporated Washington County field that was also moving fast due to wind. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to two acres of recently cut hay. They worked for 90 minutes to douse hot spots and kept the fire from spreading to a 30-acre field of uncut hay. There were no injuries or threatened structures.

Both brush fires were caused by farm equipment. 

Please see TVF&R’s social media for photos, video, and safety tips. TVF&R approves the use of all images included with this release for the purpose of news dissemination.
 

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Beginning July 1 at 7 a.m., all fire agencies within Washington County will enact a High-Fire Danger Burn Ban, based on a recommendation made by the Washington County Fire Defense Board. Washington County fire agencies include: Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Burning restrictions are authorized under Oregon Revised Statute 478.960 and Oregon Fire Code 307.

The burn ban prohibits all the following: 

1. Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.). 
2. Agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, etc.). 
3. Any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris or controlled burning.

The burn ban does not prohibit: 

1. Small outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires. These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables, and campfires, with a maximum fuel area of three feet in diameter and two feet in height in a safe location away from combustibles or vegetation and are fully extinguished after use.
2. Barbeque grills, smokers and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels.

There may be more restrictive fire safety rules on and within a 1/8 mile of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)-protected land, which exists throughout much of rural Washington County. ODF restrictions may include prohibitions on campfires, smoking, target shooting, powered equipment, motorized vehicles, and other public/private landowner and industrial fire restrictions. More details about ODF fire restrictions are available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html.

Outdoor fires in violation of this burn ban may be immediately extinguished. If a fire agency responds to a fire that has been started in willful violation of this burn ban, the person responsible may be liable for all costs incurred, as well as legal fees per ORS 478.965.

Fire chiefs in Washington County encourage the public to use extreme caution with activities that could start a fire. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent and be prepared for wildfires.  

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