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Portland Parks & Recreation is bringing back an amazing series of Summer Free For All events for 2025. Join us for movies, concerts, festivals and Free Lunch + Play. This wildly popular summer program is made possible by the
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Lieutenant Laurent Picard of Portland Fire & Rescue helps Portland residents save lives, prevent fires and prepare for urban wildfire.
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The mission of Portland Fire & Rescue is saving lives and protecting the community. But looking out for a population of 640,000 spread over an area of 160 square miles is a big task. Working from 31 stations, Portland firefighters are on call 27/4 and responded to roughly 92,000 emergency calls last year. A key part of their job is education and prevention. That's where Lieutenant Laurent Picard comes in. As a public education officer, he works with Portland residents on knowing what to do in an emergency and how to prevent fires in the first place.
How many 911 calls have you responded to? I’m going to guess about 11,000. About 25% of our calls are fire-related; the rest are a variety of other call types, such as emergency medical calls, motor vehicle crashes, river incidents, and hazmat.
If you could tell people just one thing about fire, what would it be? Our primary mission is to save lives. And the one thing that people can do to make sure that they don't lose their life in a fire is to have working smoke alarms in every sleeping area or bedroom and also outside of every sleeping area or bedroom on every floor of the house. Including basement and attic. That is the number one thing.
And the number two thing? If there is smoke or fire in your home or business, get outside and stay outside. I've seen several really tragic fires where people went back inside for their pet or to grab a personal belonging. And we find the dead dog and the dead person in the house. Fires today are a lot more dangerous than they used to be in our grandparents’ time.
Why is that? Because of the products of combustion. Back in the old days, everything...
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Portland is restarting construction of the Bull Run water filtration facility, thanks to a Multnomah County decision to reapprove the project, ending costly delays. “This decision allows us to move forward to protect public health, and to provide resilience to wildfires, landslides, flooding, and other natural disasters,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “The city is eager to put hundreds of construction tradespeople back to work to complete these critical water system improvements.”
The failure of HB 2025 in the state legislature will cut $11 million from Portland and put critical maintenance and safety services at risk, Mayor Wilson said. "I am deeply disappointed the state legislature failed to make the critical investment our transportation system needs. Vital infrastructure jobs are on the line, and our ability to deliver basic safety services like filling potholes and improving traffic conditions is at risk." Every dollar invested in preventative maintenance can save up to $10 in future reconstruction.
Fireworks sale and usage have been banned in Portland since 2022. In addition to the danger of exploding fireworks, there's a huge risk of fire and property damage. Don't use fireworks. Don't call 911 to report fireworks use. It is vital that our 911 system be kept for reporting only active fires and serious medical problems. Instead, use this link.
Rates and fees pay for the vital services Portlanders rely on every day, like water, sewers, streets, parks and garbage pickup. Portland City Council approved increases to rates and fees to support operations, repair and replacement to keep our city safe and sustainable. Read a summary for fiscal year 2025-26.
As Portland’s new public art administrator, Eric Fredericksen will oversee our public art collection and guide the Percent for Art program to make sure Portland’s public art reflects the city’s diversity, enriches civic spaces and strengthens cultural vitality. “It’s a chance to build something new together,” he said. Fredericksen served as the Head of Public Art for Vancouver, BC and the Waterfront Art Program Manager for Seattle.
Data spotlight
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Portland residents contacted Mayor Wilson and City Council about the budget over 4,500 times in May through the online Contact an Elected Official link and email. Thanks to new tools launched and supported by PDX311 and the Bureau of Technology Services, elected officials were able to use this feedback to help shape a responsive budget for Portland’s future.
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Join Rose City Self-Defense and other community partners this summer for free self-defense classes and camps for kids and teens (ages 11 and up):
July 7 – July 10 (Monday – Thursday) from 9 am to 12 pm in Foster/Powell.
July 14 – July 17 (Monday – Thursday) from 9 am to 12 pm in Brentwood-Darlington.
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The Ombudsman is here to make sure City government treats Portland residents and businesses fairly. We investigate complaints and identify ways to resolve them. As part of the elected City Auditor’s Office, we’re independent and impartial.
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We're hiring! New job openings at the City
- Organizational Development Analyst
- Wastewater Operations Coordinator
- Portland Street Response EMT Medical Responder
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Give us your feedback

Give feedback on the proposed rules for the Public Infrastructure Environmental Code Project. Submit written testimony or give verbal testimony at the Planning Commission Hearing on Tuesday, July 22.
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Community events in Portland parks
Volunteer events
Help us take care of our beautiful parks! Join a work party, tend a garden, meet people and build community. Check out our volunteer events..
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Your Portland moment
The David Campbell Memorial Ceremony was held last week in the Firefighters Section of Lone Fir Cemetery. Named for the storied fire chief who perished in the Union Oil fire of 1911, the ceremony is held every year to honor the 77 members of Portland Fire & Rescue who have died as a result of their service. Learn more.
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How're we doing?
How well do you like Rose City Connection? How could we make it better? Take our reader survey and give us some feedback.
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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