Volume 2 / Issue 1 Spring 2022

Volume 2 / Issue 1 Spring 2022

Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue

Welcome Fire Fighter/Paramedic Lieutenant Lucas Seney

“…he’s ready to respond in moments with his team of volunteers…”

Introducing Lt. Lucas Seney (pronounced See-Knee). Seney grew up in Bend, Oregon where he graduated from Summit High School. He
went on to Central Oregon Community College where he earned his, Associates in Paramedicine, and an Associate in Structural Fire Science.
As a college student he won an internship with Jefferson County Fire Department where he continues as an active volunteer. Before joining
LCF&R; Lt. Seney served at Warm Springs Fire Department gaining valuable experience as a Fire Fighter and Paramedic.
“I was always drawn to a career of service; I grew up being the protector and problem solver in my friend group, helping find solutions to chal-
lenges for them and my family members.” Says Lt. Seney, “In high school my career focus was on Engineering, but when I discovered the Fire
Service as a career option, it was an epiphany! I realized the fire service was an opportunity for me to use my critical thinking and problem-
solving skills, work in a team environment, while at the same time caring for and protecting my community. It was a win/win, a perfect fit for me!”
We are fortunate to have Lt. Seney join LCF&R because he is both a Fire Fighter and a Paramedic. On duty here at LCF&R 40 hours a week,
he is ready to respond in moments (with his team of volunteers) when the bells ring. As with most small departments Lt. Seney wears many hats
in his leadership role. He is the face you will see when in need of emergency help. Lt Seney is also the training officer for our volunteer person-
nel, he manages the fire apparatus weekly routine maintenance and checks, and he is also our new community outreach officer.
During his off time, he also works at the vaccination clinics around the State and is a Volunteer with Jefferson County Fire and Rescue. But,
when possible, enjoys snow skiing at lightning speeds (up to 84 MPH) he enjoys mountain biking and most outdoor activities. He is especially
looking forward to using his new fishing rod this season here at Lake Billy Chinook.  

1 

In case of emergency, always call 911 first!

Why Call 911, and how does it work out here, West of Lake Billy Chinook?

Written by: Robert Zavodsky
(Retired Portland Fire Bureau Deputy Chief & LCF&R Board Member)

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O  ne might wonder; do emergency 911 calls work without a network signal?

  The answer is yes (in most cases) . You can make emergency phone calls without a network signal. Here is how it
  works; when your phone loses signal from your provider network it will automatically connect to the strongest network it
  can find to allow for emergency calls to go through. However, since it is not your network, you cannot make other calls.
  Remember with little or no signal you can also text 911 by using the numbers 911 in your message box.

  Another question might be, why is it important for residents who live/play within the Boundaries Lake Chinook Fire and Res-
c ue (LCF&R) to make the first call for help to 911? Presently, Chief Colfels, Lt. Seney and all LCF&R volunteers receive emer-
g ency notifications over their cell phones when 911 is utilized. When applicable, Jefferson County is also dispatched. The 911
s ystem is the fastest and most reliable method to get help on the way. Many resources such as air ambulances are not available
u pon civilian requests. Remember always call 911 first! Even if you think someone else has called, call anyway. And when you
g et to a better location or situation information, call 911 again to update the dispatcher with any new information.

 

  Important details unique to our remote area when calling 911:

1  ) Tell the 911 operator you are in Jefferson County

2  ) Verify you are speaking with Jefferson County 911 operators NOT Deschutes County 911

 

3  ) Notify the 911 operator that you are in Lake Chinook Fire Response Area

4  ) When possible, be specific on your location, exactly where, what address you need the Fire and EMS
  to respond to. If you have a smart phone and have your latitude and longitude you can communicate
  these coordinates with the 911 operator.

  Note: Remember, even if you don’t have the exact address ALWAYS CALL 911 FIRST!
  This initial call gets help on the way, you can always call and update 911 with
 
  additional information about the incident location. 

Pa ent  survival  and  quality  care  in  the  world  of  emergency  medicine  depends  on  two  things:       

The Golden   Time, and Skill. The concept of the golden hour is the idea that trauma pa ents have significantly 
    Hour  be er survival rates if they reach surgery within 60 minutes of their injury. 
By  
Lt. Lucas Seney   Since the golden hour starts from the  me of the incident, to defini ve care... Calling 911 immediately           
improves  the  pa ent’s  survivability.    In  most  cases  in  our  rural  area,  definiƟve care means  going  to               
St. Charles, Bend.  Many  mes air ambulance is the only way to achieve lifesaving interven on.  It may be 

worth considering purchasing air ambulance insurance when living or recrea ng in our remote area.   

With my skills as a Firefighter/Paramedic and the dedica on of our volunteers we have more frequently 
been able to u lize the LCF&R ambulance to minimize transport  me.  We’ve done that in two ways; we  
either ground transport to St. Charles Madras or Redmond within the Golden Hour, or for more serious          
incidents we transport the pa ent to a landing zone to be flown via air ambulance to St. Charles, Bend or 
beyond.    Remember  always  call  911  FIRST!!!  If  LCF&R  is  not  available  to  respond,  help  will  come  from     
Jefferson County EMS. 

2 

     Meet our LCF&R Fir e Fighter Volunteers  

FF/EMT James Bennet: 5 year LCF&R FF Roy Eckelman: 4 year LCFR FF Edward Goldmann 4 year LCF&R
volunteer - Bend resident - Certified volunteer - Fulltime resident-Certified volunteer. Fulltime resident. Certified
Wildland and Structural Fire Fighter Wildland and Structural Fire Fighter Wildland and Structural Fire Fighter

Born in Redwood California, moved to Bend at A career machinist, Roy brings a wealth Raised in the Tri-Cities area, a graduate of
age 10. James is a graduate of Trinity Luther- of critical knowledge and ability to our both the University of Washington and Univer-
an High School. He attended Oregon State team. His scope of knowledge provides sity of Texas; Ed earned his PHD in Chemical
University to study Forestry and is now only a LCF&R a precious resource in that he can Engineering. After only 15 years in the Tech
few credits from completing his degree. Addi- fix all the heavy equipment or fire appa- Industry (where he also served on the Haz-
tionally, from 2012-20 James worked as a Park ratus. Over the years Roy has been gen- mat Incident Response Team).
Ranger at the Cove Palisades State Park. Cur- erous with his countless hours of volun-
rently, he is the Field Operations Manager at teerism. Long before Roy became a vol- Ed retired and lives here fulltime. He is com-
his family-owned landscaping business located unteer, he was assisting LCF&R in other munity minded by nature, earning his Eagle
in Bend. ways, by piloting and paying for his own Scout at a young age which was a perfect fit
airplane fuel to fly his plane, to spot for his natural passion to serve his community
James brings a multitude of critically important fire starts during active fire seasons. with enthusiasm. Often putting the greater
talents to LCF&R. He is a certified EMT, while good of the whole ahead of his own. Being a
at the same time he possesses a comprehen- fulltime resident allows Ed to commit time to
sive knowledge of this area both topograph- his volunteerism in a multitude of ways mak-
ically, and geographically. James has an ability ing a positive impact throughout his own
to exactly pinpoint, and navigate to be on sce- neighborhood and beyond. Ed has many tal-
ne expeditiously, not to mention he can also fix ents such as a hobby arborist, HVAC, steel
most any heavy equipment. James has heart fabricator etc. Ed also can see a problem and
that allows him to move mountains when he create the fix, by reinventing a better tool,
must on the fire scene. He and his wife have a machine, process, idea, or solution. He can
daughter and another on the way. James’ pas- fix heavy equipment (or almost anything with
sion for the fire service is evident by the fact he an engine) quickly and efficiently. Ed’s neigh-
bunks overnight at the firehouse during lighting bors say, “You know when Ed has free time
strike weather and many weekends throughout because he’s usually outside fixing something
the summer allowing him to be onsite when the to improve the neighborhood from roads to
bells ring. trees, and everything in-between”

Eric “Chops” Bramwell Joined LCF&R September 2021-Fulltime Resident: Chops, our newest volunteer, brings with him a
military background and fits easily into our talented team. He graduated from Sam Barlow HS then joined the Army (2004-08).
Chops rose to the rank of Airborne Infantry Sargent in his four years which included a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq. Upon re-

turning home and earning his EMT certification, Chops joined Oregon National Guard (2008-10). Now a full-timer, his desire
to join LCF&R was motivated when he witnessed the 2021 house fire in Three Rivers, “I just wanted to help,” said Chops. He
has earned his certification as a Wildlands Firefighter and Apparatus Driver, soon to complete the Structural Fire Certification
Training. As a battlefield veteran, Chops brings an abundance of “boots on the ground” crisis experience to our team. Adding
to his talents; Chops is an avid SCUBA diver which he enjoys very much. Chops and his 13-year-old pit bull (Sampson) are
loving the high desert living. If you meet him, you’ll learn he is quick with a smile, and a warm handshake.

3 

4

Take a Tour of Lake Chinook Fire and
Rescue’s Emergency Vehicles

1321

Structural fire engine with 1500 gallons of water in its
tank. LCF&R utilizes 1321 for structural fires and is
first out for vehicle fires. In structural fires it is used
to supply 1322’s capacity from the roadway. 1321’s
pump allows it to “pump and roll”. This means that
the engine can move while the pump is engaged. In
tandem with its massive 1500-gallon water tank. The
ability to also attack any brush fires resulting from
an already active vehicle fire can be extinguished.

1371

Advanced life support ambulance. This means all the
medical equipment utilized by a paramedic are located
on this apparatus. This ambulance is equipped with an
Auto-Loader Cot for safe and easy patient handling. It
is also equipped with a LifePak EKG machine, and a
Stryker Lucas device. This device provides consistent
and high-quality chest compressions shown by
research to increase the chances of good patient out-
comes in the event of cardiac arrest. 1371 responds to
medical emergencies whenever there is an EMR
(Emergency Medical Responder), EMT (Emergency
Medical Technician) or Paramedic available. 1371 also
responds to structural fires and motor vehicle accidents
to be ready for any medical emergency that ensues.

1340

This is a smaller wildland brush truck used for wild-
land fire emergencies and remote area rescues. This
vehicle is 4WD making it ideal for the many remote
areas in our district With its 300-gallon tank. Its
nimble size allows for quick attack to wildland inci-
dents and provides initial attack until larger engines
with more water supply arrives. It also is first-out
on burn complaints and illegal campfires. 1340 also
used for prevention and patrols.

1345 1330

This is a very large, very capable wildland engine. Its This 6-Wheel drive water tender is primarily used
1100-gallon water tank and 6x6 capabilities with 48 for water supply. Due to the lack of water supply ( No
inch tires allows it to go just about anywhere. It is the Hydrants) in our district, the use of tenders is critial
core of our wildland fire response and initial attack. to supply our engines with water during wildland and
Its large water capacity could be deemed overkill on structures fire. 1330 is equipped with a 3000-gallon
most small wildland incidents but assures us that it water tank. is self loading, meaning it can draft from
can get a job done. It’s also a very useful engine to a static water supply like the lake. During an incident
be integrated into large scale wildland situations. It the tender drives back and forth from the incident
was originally a US Army troop carrier in Iraq. The continuously suppling water to the involved
volunteers of LCF&R transformed it into a one-of-a apparatus. This tender can also be used as fire attack
kind wildland engine. It is generally crewed by 2 by putting down wet line during firing operation
wildland interface firefighters. along roads. 1330 also tows our initial attack dozer to
wildland incidents.

1342 DIniOtiaZl EatRtac1k3dozer used for cutting a line around a

Is a 2000-gallon tactical water tender with a wildland fire to contain the spread of the fire. Dozers
1000GPM pump utilized for water supply, structural are much more efficient in removing all flammable
and interface firefighting. It is equipped with 2 -1 ½’ fuel and cutting fire line.
discharges and 2- 2 ½” discharges as well as a deck
gun. This allows 1342 to provide water to the first in
structure engine, as well as provide water supply for
wildland fire incidents.

     2022 Significant Wildland Fire Poten al Outlook 
 June, July, and August predicted to be above normal. 

7 

2022 Signicant Wildland Fire Poten al Outlook
Fire Chief explain how this translate to our district

By Chief Don Cofels,

Seasonal Outlook
Since the beginning of 2022, temperatures
have been above average at higher eleva-
tions and cooler-than-average in basins.
Most areas have been drier than typical.
Snowpack in the Pacific Northwest had
lost ground since the beginning of Janu-
ary, but saw significant improvement with
snowfall in April. By the end April, upper
elevation snow reporting basins reported
snow water equivalent had risen to at or
above average for Washington, northwest
Oregon, central Oregon, and northeast-
ern Oregon. This will delay early season
fires in the high country above 3500 feet.
La Ninas remain in effect till fall and most
likelythroughwinter.Thiswillbringwarm-
er and dryer conditions June – August.
The potential for significant fires in
the Pacific Northwest is generally low
through May. However, elevated risk
continues in central Oregon, continuing
into June, and will mainly be associated
with dry and windy weather rather than
lightning. For July, the elevated risk will
expand into southwest Oregon and cen-
tral Washington before significant fire
potential increases to encompass most of
the geographic area in August. The risk of
outbreaks of large, costly fires is expected
to remain at normal levels across most of
the Pacific Northwest in July. However,
ongoing drought and summer heating
will boost risk not only in central Oregon
but expanding into southwest Oregon.

Above normal significant fire po-
tential will likely expand from cen-
tral Oregon to southwest Oregon
and central Washington by July and
much of the Northwest in August.
Increased monsoonal moisture from
the southwest will increase Light-
ning and becomes more of a threat
for initiating new significant fires
beginning in July.

7

LANDOWNERS EARN $500.

Cash Program Encourages Landowners to Create Defensible Space

Reduce your chances of losing your home to a wildfire by participating in the
Jefferson County Fuels Reduction project and earn $500 cash!

The 2022 Defensible space grant application period is now open.
Visit our Website for more information and your application.

ATV Safety By Diane and Frank Burkeen 
Tips &

Reminders
By Robert Zavodsky
  We love where we live, and are grateful that we were spared from the
       With  summer  approaching  Grandview Fire last year. Swift action by our fire department to lay protec-
LCF&R  (Lake  Chinook  Fire  and  Res‐ tive fire lines, plus good luck with the wind direction served our neighbor-
hood well.

cue)  would  like  to  take  this  me  to  I have heard it said that it’s not a matter of “if” a fire will occur, but “when” -
discuss  ATV  (All  Terrain  Vehicles)  and the best defense is in being prepared.
safety.  Each year LCF&R responds to 

tragic, avoidable ATV accidents.  Eve‐ The recent wildfire in Boulder, CO was a shocking example of the need for

ry  year  approximately  1/3  of  the  preparation. Who would have conceived of such a devastating fire occurring
people  killed  in  ATV  accidents  are  during Winter?

under the age of 16.   To that point, we have kicked off the effort to have Rim Park become certi-
  fied as a nationally recognized Firewise community.
 The leading cause of injury and fatal 

ATV accidents are:  The benefits of certification are twofold: 1) enhanced fire preparedness by

‐Inexperienced  operators  who  ride  “hardening” our home and property defenses, and 2) potential financial sav-

alone  ings in cost of property insurance.

‐Riding without adult supervision  and Three Rivers neighborhoods have attained the
and        Fc eorrteifsictaPtioanrk. Firewise
‐Preforming  dangerous  stunts 
maneuvers 

‐Opera ng  in  unfamiliar  areas  or  Our fire chief, Don Cofels, is helping to educate, facilitate, and guide us in
terrain    the certification process. We property owners will take the initiative and ac-
Most  of  the  ATV  injuries  and  acci‐ tion to make our properties “Firewise” according to program guidelines.

dents today take place on roads or    The Firewise certification process spans three years. Frank and I have
highways.    This  is  sad  because  ATVs   kicked off the program by beginning to remove and limb up trees on our
are not designed to be ridden   property, accomplishing the initial community hours requirement for the first
on roadways.  The following are gen‐ year.
eral rules to stay safe on and ATV. 

  The forms below outline helpful action items and required documentation

‐All  operators  of  Class  I  and  III        n  ecessary to accomplish Firewise certification.

ATVs  must  have  an  ATV  safety  edu‐ “Hardening” of our properties encompasses maintenance work we already
ca on card  accomplish. The Firewise program will enhance our preparedness as we
‐Ride  an  ATV  that  is  right  for  your  expand our awareness and take further action to protect our properties in
size and age  the event of wildfire.
‐Always  use  an  approved  helmet 

and eye protec on  Let’s be prepared for “when”, not “if” our properties are threatened by wild-

‐Wear  long  pants,  long  sleeves,  fire.

gloves and boots  the        EthaecirhpproroppeertrytywohwicnhersuinppRoimrtsPFairrekwciasne help by 1) noting any work done on
objectives, and 2) sharing that infor-
‐Always  ride  at  a  safe  speed  for 
condi ons  
mation in order to benefit the certification process.
‐Never ride while impaired 

‐Know and follow ATV rules of your  For more information on Firewise USA, you can visit https://www.nfpa.org/

state   Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA

  We are available to help!
For more informa on go to:  

h p://www.oregon.gov    Looking forward to becoming more safe through Firewise.
enter in search bar “ATV safety”  

10 

HOW TO

PREPARE
YOUR HOME

FOR WILDFIRES

WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION STEPS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER DURING A WILDFIRE

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BE PREPARED

1. HOME IGNITION ZONES 6. EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACCESS

To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, Ensure your home and neighborhood have legible and
choose fire-resistant building materials and limit the amount clearly marked street names and numbers. Driveways
of flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones. should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of
The zones include the Immediate Zone: (0 to 5 feet around 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.
the house), the Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet), and the
Extended Zone (30 to 100 feet). n Develop, discuss, and practice an emergency action plan
with everyone in your home. Include details for handling
2. LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE pets, large animals, and livestock.

To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches n Know two ways out of your neighborhood and have a
that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune predesignated meeting place.
branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on
their height) from the ground. Remove plants containing n Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay—don’t
resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel
of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet threatened from the fire.
around the house). Keep your landscape in good condition.
n Conduct an annual insurance policy checkup to adjust
FIRE RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION for local building costs, codes, and new renovations.

3. ROOFING AND VENTS n Create or update a home inventory to help settle
claims faster.
Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite
shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best 3 4
protection. Inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or 1 5
repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember
penetration. Box in eaves, but provide ventilation to prevent 6 2
condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be
screened to prevent ember entry. TALK TO YOUR LOCAL FORESTRY AGENCY
OR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LEARN MORE
4. DECKS AND PORCHES ABOUT THE SPECIFIC WILDFIRE RISK
WHERE YOU LIVE.
Never store flammable materials underneath decks or
porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under
decks and porches and between deck board joints.

5. SIDING AND WINDOWS

Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite
combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can crack
windows. Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fiber-
cement, plaster, or stucco, and use dual-pane tempered
glass windows.

VISIT FIREWISE.ORG FOR MORE DETAILS Firewise® is a program of the National Fire Protection Association.
This publication was produced in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, US Department
of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters. NFPA is an equal opportunity
provider. Firewise® and Firewise USA® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection
Association, Quincy, MA 02169.

Order a Reducing Wildfire Risks in the Home Ignition Zone checklist/poster at Firewise.org

Wildland Every year, wildfires
burn across the U.S.,
Fire Safety and more and more
people are living where
wildfires are a real
risk. But by working
together, residents
can make their own
property — and their
neighborhood — much
safer from wildfire.

Action steps for around your home: AND
DON’T
• CLEAR leaves and other vegetative debris from roofs, FOrGET...
gutters, porches and decks. This helps prevent embers
from igniting your home. The more actions a
community takes, the
• REMOVE dead vegetation and other items from under more fire adapted it
your deck or porch, and within 10 feet of the house. becomes. Learn how you
can make a difference in
• SCREEN in areas below patios and decks with wire your community. Visit
mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from www.fireadapted.org
accumulating. and www.firewise.org for
more information.
• REMOVE flammable materials (wood piles, propane
tanks) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and FACT
outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can
catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch. •! There are more than 45
million homes near or in
• Wildfire can spread to tree tops. PRUNE trees so the thewwwiwld.nlfapan.odr.g/education
lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
•! More than 72,000 U.S.
• KEEP your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, communities are now at
cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and risk from wildfire.
shrubs are fuel for wildfire.

• Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. DISPOSE of
these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.

• INSPECT shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair the
shingles that are loose or missing to prevent ember
penetration.

• COVER exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no
larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the
home.

• ENCLOSE eaves and screen soffit vents using 1/8 mesh
metal screening to prevent ember entry.

Your Source for SAFETY Information Lake Chinook Fire & Rescue
www.lakechinookfireandrescue.org
NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169

www.nfpa.org/education ©NFPA 2016

BEING A VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY
RESPONDER IS ABOUT ONE THING.

Immediate openings for re ghters,
medical responders, drivers,
mechanic, and support volunteers

Contact Lt. Lucas Seney
541-629-8911

It's not what you look like, what degree you have, or where you com e from .
It's about heart. If you've got the heart to serve this comm unity in a way that
fe w c a n, y ou'v e got e ve ry thing we ne e d. COME JOIN TODAY.

Download an application http://www.lakechinook reandrescue.org/about/volunteer.php

Contact Lake Chinook Fire & Rescue Current Fire Burning Information
& Fire Restrictions
Mailing Address:
Lake Chinook Fire & Rescue For current re danger levels, all re restrictions
and general re information,
11700 SW Graham Rd please call 541-410-5077
Culver, OR 97734
Fire Danger levels may change overnight
Phone: 541-629-8911
Fax: 503-296-2418

info@lakechinook reandrescue.org

Summer Office Hours Wednesday - Sunday 11Am-7pm