Portland Fire and Rescue Truck 13 Medic Run #1 From Station 13

[abzvinny318]

Wow, I never saw this video. I wonder if you have anymore hidden away lol.

[ColinFWheeler]

@abzvinny318 Hi and thanks for the comment. I'll be posting a video I took of a rescue responding in Paris, France a couple of days ago. I'll try to film more Portland FB response videos the next time I get back to Portland. 

[abzvinny318]

@ColinFWheeler

Awesome. Looking forward to seeing them. 

[wannabenj]

ok now these trucks are being used for medic calls as well as fire calls,do these fire fighters get medic pay as well? What about rest for the fire fighters? What about the wear and tear on the rigs? What about if these rigs are out on a medic call say for a slight injury and there is a fire in opposite direction? Why don't they get a medic truck just for medical issues rather than sending these rigs out? Sorry for all the questions just thinking of the fire fighters and citizens.

[ColinFWheeler]

@wannabenj Hi and thanks for the questions. I can't answer all of them, but when I was there the FFs explained to me that Dispatch will send whichever unit (E or T) has the most ALS trained paramedics that shift on ALS calls. The day I was there, the Truck had more ALS trained paramedics on it than the Engine did. The E went on BLS runs. Portland F&R only has two Rescues, and they aren't near Stn 13, so the E or T roll on the medic calls in their area along w/ the AMR operated Medics

[ColinFWheeler]

@wannabenj Hi and thanks for the questions. I can't answer all of them, but when I was there the FFs explained to me that Dispatch will send whichever unit (E or T) has the most ALS trained paramedics that shift on ALS calls. The day I was there, the Truck had more ALS trained paramedics on it than the Engine did. The E went on BLS runs. Portland F&R only has two Rescues, and they aren't near Stn 13, so the E or T roll on the medic calls in their area along w/ the AMR operated Medics

[kkfire50]

No, I always remember it as Engine Co. 13. My Dad never talked about his calls around our dinner table. He had 3 daughters and a mother in law living in the house. He always thought it may traumatize us! He did forbid us as teenagers to ever ride on the backs of motor cycles! He had mopped up too many horrific accidents! He never allowed us to hear dispatch! The only glimpses we saw of him were on TV. He was fireman of the year. We watched his award on Ivom Smith's New Show after Rescue *.

[kkfire50]

Oh by the way, I failed to mention this station was one of the busiest stations during the late 50-60's. Most of our meals there were eaten by the wives and kids in an empty fire house!

[kkfire50]

I really like this video! My Dad was stationed at engine house 13 during the late 1950's through 1970. I remember the station well! Had many a meals there growing up! It has a shop in the back where the men worked on cars, woodworking ect. Many a rides on the firetruck to have a front row seat for the Rose Parade! I stopped by the station in the early 90's. It had since been retrofitted in the kitchen area, The men played alot of pinochle in those days, and watched alot of sports! Memories!

[ColinFWheeler]

@kkfire50 Thanks for the comments. I'm glad you liked it. It must have always been a busy station -- when I would listen to dispatch as a kid in the '70s (the "phantom box" era!) the Engine and Truck from the 13s were always getting calls. The truck company had a different number back then.

[41sv]

Only a job for maans!!

[emtff357]

is this the station by lloyd center mall

[ColinFWheeler]

Yes, that's the one.

[emtff357]

brings back memories

[tractordude290]

why bring the ladder truck rather than the engine?

[ColinFWheeler]

Hi and thanks for the question.  I asked the fire fighters this question and they explained that on this particular day the Truck had more ALS trained members on duty than the Engine did. As a result, dispatch sent the truck on ALS calls, and the Engine on BLS calls. This is apparently standard operating procedure at the Portland F&R.

[tractordude290]

oh ok thanks.

[arohn2007]

I'm not understanding your answer. I wouldn't think it would matter as long as a smaller truck wasn't out on a call. That way also the ladder truck wouldn't be out to a medical call if it was needed at a building fire. That to me seems to make more sense unless you have more then one ladder truck.

[ColinFWheeler]

Hi ... I kind of agree w/ you, but as it was explained to me, since the truck had at least one ALS trained paramedic / firefighter on duty during that shift, and the engine had only BLS trained FFs, the truck went on ALS calls and the engine went on BLS calls during the shift. This is to prevent the truck paramedic FF from having to work on the engine during his shift.

[sushidude123]

@ColinFWheeler in philadelphia tiller usually have more emt based firefighters

[arohn2007]

I was just thinking the same thing. It looks hard enough to drive to take it when a smaller truck would do.

[NYsentinel]

Strength and Honor

[vff306]

Is'nt that truck a little over kill for a med call, wouldn;t it make more sense for the other rig to roll?

[ColinFWheeler]

Hi and thanks for the great question. I asked the FFs this. They said that on ALS calls, dispatch will send whichever company in a station that has the most ALS trained staff that day. On the day I was at PF&R Stn 13, E13 was staffed only with BLS trained personnel, while T13 had at least 1 ALS trained FF/paramedic. As a result, E13 went on BLS calls, and T13 went on ALS calls.

[vff306]

Makes sense.

[flightjunkie250]

wouldnt it make a little more sense to swap a person out with the $200,000 engine, making the engine higher medical qualified, rather than sending out a $750,000 truck out on a simple medical?

Yeah we run a truck company on medical calls on my dept only if the rescue and the engine are out on other calls. But given its an Air Force base, that wont happen.

[911caddy]

Man you have to ditch the camera phone! This would have been a great video if we had some video detail!!

Keep them coming in "high quality" please!!

It would have been a 5 star vid if we could see what was going on! Good luck with it!

[ColinFWheeler]

Hi. Thanks for the feedback. I'll try to upgrade soon.

[konatown5]

Very cool vid

[yoyoimhome]

what did he say to you right before you said "OK"?

[ColinFWheeler]

Hi. One of the fire fighters suggested that I get to the front of the station asap as the Truck was about to leave the station. I wanted to film the company pulling out of the station. I didn't realize that all but the tiller operator were already on the rig. The fire fighters you see sitting at the table eating lunch were on the Engine.