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our Water Bureau and partner agencies spend a day in the Bull Run Watershed getting ready for wildfire season. Wildfires aren’t common in the watershed, but we still need to be prepared. We work closely with Portland Fire & Rescue, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, Clackamas Fire District, and other fire response agencies to make sure all the necessary equipment and protocols are in place. These partnerships, careful planning, and preventative maintenance all help to protect Portland’s main source of drinking water.
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Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
Fires can start and spread anywhere. Portland’s industrial waterfront includes many structures that are hard for firefighters to access from land. As a harbor pilot and fire fighter for Portland Fire & Rescue, Colin Mcgladrey safeguards the city from the bridge of Fire Boat 21.
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Portland was built on the banks of the Willamette River, and for many decades, its waterways were its highways. Even today, big chunks of the city, especially along its industrial waterfront, are easier accessed from the river than the land. Which poses a special challenge for Portland Fire & Rescue. How do you respond to a fire at a marina? Or a blaze on board a ship? Or an accident on the Eastside Esplanade, which is too narrow for a regular vehicle?
Fire Station 21 is Portland’s answer to this puzzle. Located at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge, the station is home to a fire engine for land-based emergencies, an ATV for the Esplanade, a fire boat for waterfront fires, and a rescue boat for swimmers in distress. Firefighter Colin Mcgladrey drives them all. He's served with Portland Fire and Rescue for 22 years and been a harbor pilot for 15 of them. We caught up with him at Station 21 to find out more.
What does a harbor pilot do? The harbor pilot operates the fire boat and the rescue boat. So you’re responsible for safe operation and navigation of the vessel. You're in charge of knowing your waterways, your response areas. And working as a crew together to respond on the emergency calls that we go on.
What type of calls do you get? At Station 21, we respond to fire, medical, and other emergency incidents as a typical engine company for land-based calls. We also get water-based calls. We respond in a fire boat or rescue boat depending on the nature of the call. It could be fire, search and rescue, medical assistance, oil spill, navigation hazards, you name it.
What do you see when you look at the river? I see the same thing you do. A beautiful sparkling body of water. I love it. I love being on the water. I grew up in Rainier, Oregon, I’ve been on the water my whole life. But looks can be deceptive. Beneath the surface you’ve got swift currents. Hidden hazards. Cold temperatures that can shock a strong swimmer. So we advise people to wear a life jacket.
What does your workday look like? We work 24-hour and 48-hour shifts. After roll call, we do physical fitness and check the fire engine and boats to make sure all equipment is ready for the day. We shop for the shift meals we're going to need. We train or do various tasks like maintaining the station and apparatus or going on building walkthroughs to get information prior to a fire. All these plans can be interrupted at any time to respond to emergency calls. Our shift ends at 0700. We have coffee with the next crew and catch up with them. I usually head home by 0745.
Do waterfront fires pose special hazards to firefighters? The smoke is toxic, so we try to position upwind. That’s true of every fire. When we approach the fire, we also have to be aware of submerged piers and rocks we have to navigate through. A lot of these buildings were built on creosote piers. Once those get going, that’s a massive wall of smoke.
What do you like best about the job? I love the camaraderie of the Fire Bureau. It's like having...
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A new report from the Portland Police Bureau reveals a significant drop in crime in the area near two of the City’s new overnight shelters. The police compared neighborhood crimes committed six months before the shelters opened and six months afterwards. The SAFES shelter in Old Town saw a drop of 2.5% in overall crime in the vicinity after it opened on January 6. The Moore Street Shelter in North Portland showed even more encouraging results. Overall crime in the vicinity dropped 13%.
PHB has awarded $23 million across eight sites to preserve nearly 500 existing affordable homes. Capital improvements will extend the useful lifetimes of these buildings, while also increasing energy efficiency using PCEF dollars and addressing livability and safety concerns for tenants.
The Portland City Council approved a temporary pause on system development charges for new residential projects. This pause, a key component of the city’s ambitious 5,000 Unit Challenge, will be in effect for three years. This move comes at a time when Portland developers stand ready to launch multi-family projects.
Over a hundred public service professionals from across the country joined a virtual workshop to learn how the City of Portland is using generative AI to make its permitting system easier to navigate.
Most Urban Forestry tree permit fees have been eliminated or significantly reduced, thanks to funding from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).
On July 1, Urban Forestry implemented a fully online Tree Removal & Replanting Permit Application process. Applicants submitting via DevHub will no longer have to download, complete, and upload a separate PDF file to process Tree Removal & Replanting applications.
An Ombudsman investigation found that the owners of vehicles that block the right-of-way after a collision or engine trouble can face widely disparate tow rates because of a gap between Police Bureau practices and the City’s towing contract managed by the Transportation Bureau.
Data spotlight
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The City's Graffiti Program works with community members to keep Portland beautiful by removing unauthorized graffiti from small businesses, non-profits, houses, apartments, and other buildings. Our crews removed a total of 143,000 square feet of graffiti from September to December 2024. We also partner with local groups to support and protect public art murals.
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July is Disability Pride Month. This month, Prosper Portland's Office of Small Business is celebrating stories from local entrepreneurs and highlighting resources that reduce barriers for business owners. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or thinking of starting a small business, these resources may be helpful.
This Prosper Portland grant program provides funding to small businesses located in the City of Portland that have sustained physical and economic damage due to break-ins and vandalism.
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This year, for fiscal year 2025-26, Arts & Culture provided $1,200,000 to be distributed via RACC for its Portland Arts Project Grants. Last year, for fiscal year 2024-25, the Arts & Culture provided RACC with the same amount, which was then awarded to 275 Portland-based grantees—185 individual artists and 90 arts organizations. Funds for this program are sourced from the City of Portland’s General Fund and Arts Access Fund, powered by the Arts Tax. Apply through Sept. 24
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New job openings at the City of Portland
- Business Operations Manager (Auditor - Manager I)
- Business Systems Analyst III
- Executive Assistant (Administrative Specialist III)
- Facilities Services Technical Analyst (Business Systems Analyst I)
- Seasonal Park Ranger
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Give us your feedback
We'll discuss the current status of the program, plans for the future, and gather community insight on the growth of this vital city program.
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Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Portland Sunday Parkways presented by Kaiser Permanente will return to East Portland on Sunday, July 27 from 11am - 4 pm to close the streets to cars and open them for people to walk, bike, run, roll, and play. These accessible, family-friendly events feature live entertainment, activities for all ages, vendors and more! The 4.5-mile out-and-back route will showcase Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, Lincoln Park, and we are excited to announce Parklane Park will be back onto the route.
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Featured events
Free events
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Community events in Portland parks
Volunteer events
For Portland Parks & Recreation planting and park clean up volunteer events, check the volunteer event filter.
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible. |
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Your Portland moment
Photo courtesy of the Timbers
Soccer City USA always and forever!
Home to the best fans in the league, the city-owned Providence Park has been the Portland Timbers’ home since their inaugural 1975 season.
Providence Park, built in 1926, is the oldest soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Congratulations to the Portland Timbers, who just celebrated the 10th anniversary of their MLS Cup Championship and commemorated their organization’s history during a 50-Year Celebration Night at a home match this past Saturday.
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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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