Sunday, December 14, 2008

Person of Interest in Bomb Blast Killed Two Officers


Cell phones might have been used in a bomb blast that killed two officers who had carried the device into an Oregon bank, investigators

Dec. 14: This undated image released by the Marion County Sheriff's Office shows a 'person of interest' in Friday's fatal bomb blast.


Saturday, November 22, 2008

State Interoperability Radio Channel

Nat
155.7525       VCALL VHF calling channel
151.1375       VTAC 1 VHF tactical channel no. 1
154.4525       VTAC 2 VHF tactical channel no. 2
157.7375       VTAC 3 VHF tactical channel no. 3
159.4725       VTAC 4 VHF tactical channel no. 4
453.2125       UCALL UHF calling channel
453.4625       UTAC 1 UHF tactical channel no. 1
453.7215       UTAC 2 UHF tactical channel no. 2
453.8625       UTAC 3 UHF tactical channel no. 3

821.0125       ICALL NPSPAC calling channel
821.5215       ITAC 1 NPSPAC tactical channel no. 1
822.0125       ITAC 2 NPSPAC tactical channel no. 2
822.5125       ITAC 3 NPSPAC tactical channel no. 3

Oregon 

VHF Radios Channel (MHz) Label Description

155.7525 base/mobile VCALL National Calling
151 .1375 base/mobile VTAC 1 * National Tactical
154.4525 base/mobile VTAC 2 * National Tactical
158.7375 base/mobile VTAC 3 * National Tactical
159.4725 base/mobile VTAC 4 * National Tactical

UHF Radios Channel (MHz) Label Description

458.2125 mobile UCALL National Calling
453.4625 base/mobile UTAC 1 a National Tactical
458.4625 mobile UTAC 1 National Tactical
453.7125 base/mobile UTAC 2a National Tactical
458.7125 mobile UTAC 2 National Tactical
453.8625 base/mobile UTAC 3a National Tactical
458.8625 mobile UTAC 3 National Tactical

800 MHz Radios Channel (MHz) Label Description

821/866.0125 ICALL National Calling
821/866.5125 ITAC-1 National Tactical
822/867.0125 ITAC-2 National Tactical
822/867.5125 ITAC-3 National Tactical
823/868.0125 ITAC-4 National Tactical
821/866.3250 OROPS1 Oregon Tactical
821/866.3875 OROPS2 Oregon Tactical
821/866.7500 OROPS3 Oregon Tactical


Oregon Statewide Frequencies


Oregon Statewide Frequencies 

Oregon Police     (O.P.E.N.) 155.475 

Search and Rescue           155.160
 
State Fire FireNET           154.280 

State Forestry Fire RedNET  151.340 
                      WhiteNET  151.310

Hospital Emergency      (HEAR)  155.340 

Delivery Network      (MEDNET)  462.950 
   468.175 

ODF State Tactical Channel         158.895 


Ctiy of Grants Pass Oregon add ALL Hazard Channel

At Monday Nov 24, 2008 Special City Council Workshop Meeting.

To upgrade the city existing Motorola Radio Systems in collaboration Josephine County with a grant from Homeland Security to improve urban area interoperable communications. 

Add New Repeated "All Hazards" Frequency in Grants Pass Area would increase downtown building penetration.

Joe&Jack 155.4900
OPEN      155.4750 Nat. Wide Net

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

SOregon Regional Communications building projected

Southern Oregon Regional Communications building projected 10-month building period at the $5 million, 15,000-square-foot center near the intersection of Table Rock and Biddle roads.

Dispatch for

Police

Talent
Phoenix
Jacksonville
Central Point
Eagle Point
Shady Cove
Rogue River
Butte Falls
Jackson County Sheriff
Crater Lake National Park

Fire


Rogue River Rural Fire District 1
Jackson County Fire District 3
Shady Cove Fire District 4
Jackson County Fire District 5
Evans Valley Fire District 6
Applegate Fire District 9
Jacksonville Fire
Lake Creek Fire
Butte Falls Fire
Prospect Fire
Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park
Rogue River Rural Fire District 1

After Hours Dispatch Oregon Department of Forestry
United States Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Wireless Amber Alerts Cell Phone SMS


Get Amber Alerts to Your Cell phone

Enter Phone Number

and Enter 5 ZIP CODES for City's for Amber Alerts

https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/index.jsp

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Law Enforcement Cars 2009



Carbon Internal 'E7' aka, The Machine a police car that can run on biodiesel









2009 Dodge Charger police car has a 5.7-liter Hemi, the better to chase you with.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Redwood Public Safety Station Now Open

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce the opening of the new Redwood Public Safety Station, 3071 Leonard Rd. The project was completed under budget.

The Redwood Public Safety Station is open and GP Public Safety firefighters and police officers began use of the facility on Friday, October 10, 2008. The facility includes police offices for those assigned to the Redwood area patrol beat. Crime Prevention Officer Kevin Blaich, who will operate his Crime Prevention office from the Redwood Public Safety Station, will join those patrol officers. A formal community open house will occur in early November with more specific information to follow later.

This station is the smaller of the two and will serve an area of the community that had been lacking adequate emergency response. In fact, prior to the opening, most residents were 10-15 minutes from the nearest Grants Pass city firefighters. The new station will provide emergency response within 5 minutes for the majority of the response area.

Under Budget
We are pleased to announce that while the Redwood project still has some outstanding invoices, tentative budget numbers show the Redwood Public Safety Station project will be completed for approximately $250,000 under budget. We credit a number of factors to successfully completing the project under budget.

New Pumpers/Training Tower - Update

The voter approved bond measure also included three pumpers, which are expected to arrive in late November. Replacement of a condemned training tower at the Hillcrest Station, as well as modifications to the Hillcrest Station, all projects included in the original bond measure, are expected to get underway in January

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Grants Pass Redwood Station in Service





First Weekend for Redwood Station

154.3850 Distpacth
154.2800 State FM net
155.5800
151.1450 ODF
151.3100 ODF
151.1300 ODF

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Introducing the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (R.A.D.E.) Team

The restructuring resulted in a new interagency agreement, a new member agency on the team, the award of a grant, and a new name for the team: Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team, referred to as R.A.D.E.

The team is composed of representatives from the Oregon State Police, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Josephine County District Attorney's Office, and Josephine County Community Corrections (Adult Parole and Probation). Each agency provides support to the team through the provisions of personnel and/or equipment and/or facilities.

The team has recently moved into their new facility and is available for narcotics investigations within the City of Grants Pass and surrounding areas.

The team is also excited to report that they have been selected by the Edward Byrne Grant to receive grant monies to assist the team in their drug enforcement efforts. The grant provides for training, specialized equipment, safety equipment, overtime for those detectives assigned to drug investigations, and some clerical case management.

Anyone wishing to report illegal drug activity can contact R.A.D.E. by calling the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at 474-6370 and ask to speak to or leave a message for a R.A.D.E. member. In the future the team will be providing additional phone numbers for a tip line for citizens wishing to report drug activity and information.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

October 2, 2008 Media Conference Regarding Recent Arsons and Arrests

The purpose of this News Conference is to review the investigation of numerous arsons and arrests that have occurred over the past month.

A review of all fires within the community over a period of approximately 18 months (March 2007 through August 2008) revealed a significant number of fires, approximately 50, that had occurred throughout the community. The fires ranged from vehicle fires, trash can fires, dumpster fires, outdoor furniture that had been set on fire, grass fires, structure fires and park lands and parks equipment.

During the latter part of August the number and frequency of fires began to increase. As a result, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Patrol, Detectives and Prevention, the Josephine County Juvenile Department, Josephine County Parole and Probation, City of Grants Pass Parks Department met and formed a task force to share information and to work together to investigate these fires.

Prior to establishing the task force, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Detectives and Prevention personnel had spent considerable hours and effort to canvas neighborhoods, collect evidence, and to question many people that may have been involved or have knowledge about the fires.

Citizens of the community has also come forward and offered reward money for the arrest and conviction of the person/s responsible for setting the Morrison Centennial Park fire. The reward rose to $2000.

As a result of the forming of the task force, the Josephine County Juvenile Department shared information that was instrumental in assisting in identifying a possible suspect. Development of that information subsequently led to the execution of a search warrant at Justin Lee Acuff's Bridge Street residence.

Information obtained during this search warrant led detectives to Roseburg, where detectives arrested Justin Lee Acuff and Tristan Canepa. Roseburg Police Department assisted this agency in locating the suspects. We appreciate the cooperation and assistance provided to us by the Roseburg Police Department.

Acuff was arrested for Arson 1, Manufacture and Possession of a Destructive Device and Canepa was arrested for Manufacture and Possession of a Destructive Device.

As a result of these arrests, detectives executed a search warrant at 101 Smokey Lane, the residence of Jonathon Davis. Davis was subsequently arrested on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Arson 1, Manufacture and Possession of a Destructive Device.

The investigation continued with a total of ten arrests and 33 fires being solved over a period of approximately one month. Those arrests included the following subjects:

  1. Justin Lee Acuff DOB: 072393 15 years old
  2. Tristan Loren Canepa DOB: 081093 15 years old
  3. Jonathon Robert Davis DOB: 070790 18 years old
  4. Christian Joshua Pederson-Ilagan DOB: 101992 15 years old
  5. Eric James Cox DOB: 101293 14 years old
  6. Anthony R. Viscetto DOB: 073193 15 years old
  7. Alexander D. Pederson-Ilagan DOB: 090394 14 years old
  8. Sean Kenneth Kemper DOB: 042593 15 years old
  9. Benjamin Jesse Havens DOB: 112292 15 years old
  10. Johnny Walter Amaral DOB: 100794 13 years old

(Acuff, Amaral, and Davis are currently the only subjects still in custody as of October 1, 2008)

One fire that remained outstanding late into September was the Morrison Centennial Park fire that had occurred on July 31, 2008. This fire created a significant and costly amount of damage to the playground equipment, estimated at approximately $40,000.

On September 30, 2008, detectives were able to solve this case with the arrest of Jonathon Davis, Justin Acuff, and Johnny Amaral. Acuff and Amaral were already lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Detention Center on other arson related crimes.

Davis had previously been arrested and charged on other arson related crimes and had been released from the Josephine County Jail. Detectives went to his residence and arrested and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.

I have available a spreadsheet that reflects the dates of the fires, case number, location of the fire, what was burned, who the victim was, the amount of damage, who was arrested for the fire, and the charges for each suspect. This should provide a better picture of how in depth this investigation was, how many months that the crimes spanned, and also the pattern that exists between all of the individuals.

As can be seen, Davis and Acuff were involved in the majority of the arsons. In those cases where other arrestees were involved in the fires, either Acuff or Davis were also present and participated.

Specific information is known to this agency as a result of this investigation.

  1. To our knowledge, no one was injured when setting the fires.
  2. To our knowledge, no one was injured as a result of the fires.
  3. These were deliberate fires.
  4. Numerous accelerants and types of manufactured/homemade devices were used.

    At this time we are not discussing the specifics of the accelerants or the types of devices out of concern for the public should others attempt to use these same materials to create devices. Many of the accelerants were common household items, easily obtained chemicals, or accessible fuels.
  5. Many of these fires occurred during night time hours - after curfew (11 pm in City).
  6. Damage, though in some cases limited, still had potential to cause significant damage or harm to other persons or property - as in the case of the urban wildland interface in the area of the old city water tower, "G" Street and Lincoln, "G" Street and Leonard, and NW "B" and NW Woodson.
  7. The reward money was not used for any information obtained that led to the arrests.
  8. In addition to the damage that was initially caused by the fires, estimated at almost $80,000 in the solved fires, there was a significant financial impact for the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety. It is difficult to put an exact time and dollar amount on the cost that this agency bore as a result of this investigation however we know that in excess of 300 hours of investigative and support time was exhausted while interviewing over a hundred individuals, responding to the many fires sites, collecting evidence, canvassing neighborhoods, and conducting follow-up investigations.
This investigation does continue. Several other fires are still under investigation and the potential for additional arrests still exists.

We commend the hard work and dedication of the Detectives and Support Staff that have spent many hours working on these cases. It is because of great team work with the Josephine County Juvenile Department, the Josephine County Parole and Probation, and the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Prevention and Fire/Rescue personnel that we were as successful in resolving these cases.

I also wish to extend our thanks to the media for their continued interest and attention to this very serious issue.

Arrests made in Morrison Centennial Park Fire

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety has made three arrests in the arson fire that was set at Morrison Centennial Park on July 31, 2008.

In the late afternoon of September 30, 2008, detectives with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety responded to 101 Smokey Lane and arrested Jonathon Davis and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.

Johnny Amaral and Justin Acuff, who were both still in custody at the Josephine County Juvenile Department had the additional charges added.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

NEW License Issued

IG WPRV395
DOUGALS COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 2
[APPLICANT IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION AND WILL USE RADIOS TO COORDINATE STAFF]
Control Point 1 - 1290 NE CEDAR, ROSEBURG OR 541-673-0632
(link)
09/02/2008 License Modified
1 - 899 MOOREA, ROSEBURG (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
461.625 FB2 150e 20K0F3E
464.475 FB2 40e 20K0F3E
3 - 32.0 km radius around fixed location 1
466.625 MO 90e 20K0F3E
461.625 MO 90e 20K0F3E
464.475 MO 0e 20K0F3E
469.475 MO 0e 20K0F3E
4 - OR Land Mobile Control Station Meeting 20 Rule
466.625 FX1 90e 20K0F3E
467.225 FX1 90e 20K0F3E
469.475 FX1 0e 20K0F3E
5 - CANYON MOUNTAIN, CANYONVILLE (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
462.225 FB2 26e 20K0F3E
6 - 32.0 km radius around fixed location 5
462.225 MO 90e 20K0F3E
467.225 MO 90e 20K0F3E

IG WNDH741
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY
[APPLICANT IS A MANUFACTURER OF WOOD PRODUCTS]
Control Point 1 - 2186 HANLEY RD, CENTRAL POINT OR 503-772-2010
(link)
09/03/2008 License Modified
1 - 2186 HANLEY RD, CENTRAL POINT (JACKSON) OR (map)
158.28 FB 10e 20K0F3E
2 - 5.0 km radius around fixed location 1
158.28 MO 5e 20K0F3E

PW KNCW554
DOUGLAS, COUNTY OF
[DOUGLAS COUNTY IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY. RADIO WILL BE USED FOR OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES]
Control Point 1 - 1036 SE DOUGLAS AVENUE, ROSEBURG OR 541-440-6111
(link)
09/04/2008 License Modified
1 - ROMAN NOSE, 16.3 KM SE OF, MAPLETON (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 165e 20K0F3E 16K0F3E
2 - Other
155.805 MO 200e 20K0F3E 16K0F3E
3 - CANYON MOUNTAIN 3KM SSW OF, CANYONVILLE (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 88e 20K0F3E 16K0F3E
4 - END OF SCOTT MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT RD 5.1 MI NE, GLIDE (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 165e 20K0F3E 16K0F3E
5 - KENYON MOUNTAIN, 9.1KM SW OF, CAMAS VALLEY (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 165e 16K0F3E
6 - MOUNT YONCALLA, 3.6KM SW OF, DRAIN (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 86e 16K0F3E
7 - RED BUTTE, 21.8 KM SE OF, IDEYLD (DOUGLAS) OR (map)
155.805 FB 89e 16K0F3E
8 - 64.0 km radius around fixed location 1
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
9 - 64.0 km radius around fixed location 3
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
10 - 80.0 km radius around fixed location 4
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
11 - 64.0 km radius around fixed location 5
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
12 - 48.0 km radius around fixed location 6
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
13 - 64.0 km radius around fixed location 7
155.805 MO 200e 16K0F3E
14 - (DOUGLAS) OR Countywide
155.16 MO 200e 11K2F3E 20K0F3E

Sunday, August 03, 2008

NEW License Issued to OREGON, STATE OF FIRE MARSHALL

NEW License Issued to OREGON, STATE OF FIRE MARSHALL

PW WQJD347
OREGON, STATE OF FIRE MARSHALL
[FOR MUTUAL AID BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.]
07/30/2008 License Issued
1 - OR Statewide
154.2725 FBT 145e 11K2F3E
154.2875 FBT 145e 11K2F3E
155.1675 FB2T 25e 11K2F3E
153.8975 FB2T 25e 11K2F3E
453.025 FB2T 60e 11K2F3E
2 - OR Statewide
150.805 MO 5e 11K2F3E
153.8975 MO 5e 11K2F3E
158.9475 MO 5e 11K2F3E
154.2725 MO 100e 11K2F3E
154.2875 MO 100e 11K2F3E
453.025 MO 25e 11K2F3E
458.025 MO 25e 11K2F3E
155.1675 MO 5e 11K2F3E

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The funeral for George W. Holmbeck



The funeral for George W. Holmbeck is led by an antique 1927 fire truck

He became fire prevention officer for city of Grants Pass Fire Dept

TIMOTHY BULLARD/Daily Courier

Monday, July 21, 2008

Missing Person

MISSING PERSON:
Riley, Margaret DOB: 11-30-15
WFA, 503, 145, Grey waved hair to neckline, Blue eyes

VEHICLE ASSOCIATED:
1988, Chrysler, 4door, tan or blue in color with Oregon license number PAM405

DETAILS:
On July 14, 2008 Grants Pass Department of Public Safety was notified of a missing person from Regina Way in South Grants Pass. The missing person was identified as Ms. Margaret Riley (see attached flyer). A family member who lives out of the area, made the report to Grants Pass Department of Public Safety. Ms. Riley is 92 years old and has difficulty walking without a walking stick.

She drives a 1988 Chrysler 4 door which is tan or blue in color (similar to attached photograph). According to family members it is very unusual for Ms. Riley to be gone this long without making family members aware.

Anyone who is friends with or has had contact with Ms. Riley within the past 30 days is asked to contact the Detectives Division of the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at 474-6370.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Sneak Peek at Life Flight's New Helicopter



Sneak Peek at Life Flight's New Helicopter, Coming Summer 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Slow moving carriage may impact traffic


View Larger Map



Horse Drawn Carriage Rides May Impact Traffic on Saturday
Silver Ridge Outfitters, Inc. To Give Rides at Horizon Village
Posted Date: 5/15/2008

On Saturday, May 17, 2008 from noon-2:00 p.m., Silver Ridge Outfitters, Inc., will be giving horse drawn carriage rides at Horizon Village. The slow moving carriage may impact traffic along its route during that time.

The proposed route is as follows:

* The Staging area is on University Road across from Horizon Village in a parking area
* Left on Hubbard
* Left on Canal Road
* Left on Private Property, owned by Horizon Village
* Left on University Road, returning to staging area

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Honor two Medford firefighters who died




04-30-08 Firefighters from around the state converged on downtown Medford Wednesday to honor two Medford firefighters who died in an ATV accident in the Johns Peak area west of Jacksonville. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven

See the entire gallery that this photo came from!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Sunday, April 06, 2008

U.S. Forest Service flying drones


The U.S. Forest Service will use flying drones like this one — priced at $50,000 — to track down marijuana growers in remote California woodlands.

Monday, March 17, 2008

OREGON'S LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK TO OPEN TWO NEW BASES


Life Flight Network, LLC is expanding its 30-year presence in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area to the Southern Willamette Valley and Columbia River Gorge to bring life-saving medical helicopter service to all communities within range of its new bases of operation. Life Flight's new bases at the Eugene Airport and The Dalles Airport will increase the availability of emergency medical helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in those regions - reducing the transport time of critically ill and injured patients to area hospitals. "This is great news for the growing communities in those areas," said Michael Griffiths, Life Flight Network Executive Director. "Additional Life Flight bases at the Eugene Airport and The Dalles Airport will not only greatly enhance access to air ambulance service for the communities surrounding those airports, it will have the added benefit of increasing access to Life Flight helicopters in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Positioning helicopters in the Gorge and Southern Willamette Valley will increase the availability of Life Flight helicopters currently located in Hillsboro and Aurora. With increasing traffic congestion on our freeways, it is getting even more challenging to get patients where they need to go in the shortest amount of time possible." Physicians, nurses, paramedics and other emergency medical providers throughout the region are excited about this new level of service. Traumatic injuries have commonly been the biggest users of medical helicopters, but as treatment options are expanded for patients suffering heart attacks and strokes Life Flight is seeing a greater need for its aircraft. New treatments for a patient experiencing a heart attack or stroke are often times just as time sensitive as getting a trauma patient into surgery. Life Flight plans on beginning service at both of their new bases by mid June. About Life Flight Network – Life Flight (www.lifeflight.org), a CAMTS certified program, is headquartered in Aurora, Oregon. Life Flight was the first hospital based air ambulance on the West Coast and only the fourth such service in the nation. Celebrating 30-years of continuous service, Life Flight has safely transported over 31,000 patients. Life Flight Critical Care Nurses and Paramedics are trained in the emergency transport of high-risk obstetrical patients as well as critically ill and injured pediatric and adult patients. Life Flight Network is owned and operated by the consortium of Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, and Providence Health System. Air Methods Corporation, the largest provider of air ambulance pilots and mechanics in the country, holds operational control of Life Flight's helicopters. Aero Air, LLC, widely known for its fixed-wing air ambulance operations, holds operational control of Life Flight's fixed-wing aircraft.

Life Flight Network Eugene Airport in June.

Emergency medical helicopter service coming to Eugene

Monday, March 17, 2008


The business of saving lives often involves a race against time.

And beginning this summer, critically ill and injured patients in Lane County will be able to depend on quick responses from emergency medical helicopters stationed around the clock in Eugene.

Springfield officials — who administer the local FireMed ambulance membership program — have signed an agreement with Life Flight Network of Aurora to begin offering emergency air transport from the Eugene Airport in June.

For the past two years, FireMed has contracted with REACH Air Medical of Santa Rosa, Calif. for emergency air service. The main drawback of that arrangement is that REACH’s closest helicopters operate out of Corvallis.

Officials say once Life Flight touches down in Eugene, local response times should be cut by about 15 minutes.

Read more in Tuesday’s Register-Guard.

Monday, February 25, 2008

School Letters Mobilizes Rescue


School Letters misidentified as plane wreck ..

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

FEMA Grant for Upgrade of GPFire/Rescue Radios

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade radios for the Fire/Rescue Division. The funding will replace hand-held and mobile radios that are an old mix of manufactures and types. The new radios will be compliant with federal regulations which require public safety agencies to switch to narrow band frequencies by the year 2013. The current radios used by the firefighters are not adaptable to the new standard. Jackson County Fire Agencies as well as the Oregon Department of Forestry in Josephine County have already switched to radios that meet the new standard.

The total cost of the communications grant programs is $123,000.00. The grants will provide $110,700.00 and the Department's matching portion is $12,300.00. This will provide for twenty (20) hand held and seven (7) mobile radios along with a radio repeater that will enhance reception and transmission of emergency radio traffic.

This much needed upgrade will allow firefighter radio transmissions to be clearly heard in all of the city as well as the Urban Growth Area. For years the national fire service has cited poor radio reception as a contributor to numerous fire fatalities and injuries. One feature of the new hand held radios will be a "May Day" button that has a distinctive tone that will notify emergency scene commanders and dispatchers in the event of a firefighter becoming disoriented or trapped. These new radios will meet the needs of the Department as Grants Pass continues to expand its geographical boundaries.

The Aid to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security through FEMA and was created a number of years ago by Congress to fund firefighting equipment, health and safety programs and educational programs in fire departments across the nation.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Saturday, February 02, 2008

140 mile stretch of Interstate 5 Closed

I-5 is closed at Ashland Exit 14 due to blizzard conditions and crashes in northern California. The earliest estimate to re-open is Sunday morning.

NB I-5 is also closed in Redding California. The entire 140 mile stretch of Interstate 5 from Ashland, Or to Redding, CAL is experiencing severe winter weather.

Monday, January 28, 2008

SNOW IN Rogue Valley




















Snow hit Rogue Valley look like week of cold .

All Schools are Closed ..... Sunday it Started with Rain then turn to Snow and warm up to 37 f and then Snow then 22F froze and snow ..

MERCY FLIGHTS is flighting mission to Kfalls for transfers to Rogue Valley Medical Center...

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

ODOT Road and Weather Coding

WEATHER CONDITIONS

1 Clear, No Precipitation
2 Partly Cloudy
3 Overcast
4 Ground Fog
5 Intermittent Showers
6 Rain
7 Snow flurries
8 Snowing Hard and Continuously
9 Severe Weather Alert (Dust Storm - Blowing Snow - White Out - Freezing Rain - High Winds - Falling Trees etc)



ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS

1 Bare Pavement
2 Spots of Ice
3 Black Ice
4 Standing Water or Flooding on Roadway
5 Slush or Pack Breaking up
6 Packed Snow
7 Intentionally left blank
8 Conditional Closure Chains Required - Traction tires are not sufficient
9 Highway Closed

You might hear a report like this: 12-37 for Santiam Pass - 22-76-2-68-C...The first numbers are the temperature, 22 degs. The second set are the weather then the road conditions, in this case Snow Flurries, Packed Snow. The 3rd number is new snow, the 4th number is roadside snow and the last letter is the current Chain Requirement, in this case Chains or Traction tires required.