Talking with fire agencies in Columbia County on Monday, July 8, it appears most have been following hot weather tips during this first brutal heat wave of 2024.
“I would say we were probably status quo,” Columbia River Fire & Rescue Chief Eric Smythe said. “We ran the same, roughly, number of calls we normally do. Obviously, we have periods of time that are busier than others.”
CRF&R recorded two heat related incidents during the heat wave, as of Monday afternoon, July 8.
“There were a number of health calls that we received,” Smythe said. “Did the heat exacerbate it? There’s always that possibility.”
Scappoose Fire Chief Jeff Pricher reported a similar, low number of heat related calls.
“I think we had a couple of heat related response requests,” Pricher said. “Business as usual, we haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.”
The Scappoose District did respond to a noninjury residential fire Friday evening, July 5, on Sam Blehm Road.
“It was a single family residence,” Pricher said, “We were able to contain the fire to the attic … . We were able to protect a lot of the homeowner’s stuff from water damage.”
Pricher did not offer specifics on the heat-related calls, but emergency crews are always on the lookout for heat exhaustion and the more serious condition, heat stroke. First responders caution that heat stroke can become an emergency, with symptoms including a racing heart rate, rapid breathing, flushed skin and a high body temperature. Heat exhaustion can produce symptoms such as heavy sweating, faintness, dizziness and fatigue.
Examining his fire district log, Pricher said people appeared to take proper precautions.
“I think, if anything, it’s either been the same or less calls because people are trying to beat the heat,” he said. “They’ve been staying inside, staying cool, which we support. We think that’s awesome.”
Perhaps with increasing incidents of heat waves, people are learning how to cope in hot weather. That’s a trend Pricher likes.
“I think the best thing that can be mentioned is to reiterate, at least in the Scappoose community, how thankful we are that our community members are doing such a good job of planning for these types of emergencies,” Pricher said. “The best way they’re planning is to make sure they’re either in the shade or going to places where there’s lots of water.”
Smythe agrees that people are taking precautions.
“I think people are a lot more health-wise and so they know they need to drink water,” Smythe said. “If you are going to go outside, drink water because you’re going to sweat it all out.”
And it might be easier to forget this important tip if you plan to mow your lawn in the heat of the day. That act itself could be cause for concern for the local fire agencies, and one Pricher encouraged residents to avoid.
“If your lawn is yellow, you have a greater chance of starting a fire, by having your mower blade hitting a rock, causing a spark,” Pricher said, adding, “Hopefully there’s no wind because if there is, those fires are usually hard to contain.”
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