We were scheduled to burn our practice house on April 5th but, unfortunately, the house “mysteriously” burned down prematurely about 2 hours after the department practiced some fire drills in one of the rooms. News like this is sure to make the Molalla Pioneer!
The Colton Fire Department will be burning a house on April 5 as a “Burn To Learn” practice drill. As part of our fire academy, we had the chance to play in the burn house most of the day, practicing search & rescue while using the SCBAs, forcible entry, ladders, and rapid egress through walls. Our Instructor, Kent, along with Miranda & Chris helped us work through the drills.
Brad and Kent working on forcible entry and sounding the roof…
Kent and Jodi securing a foot hold in preparation to vent the roof…
From top to bottom: Miranda, Brad, Jodi & Kent
Jodi & Brad working with the ladder…
Colton’s Emergency vehicles…
Jodi & Brad setting up the positive pressure fan & Kent on the roof…
Miranda footing the ladder in the bushes…
We decided to join the local Colton fire department, made up of nearly 100% volunteers. On February 14th, we kicked off the academy and had to pass a rather grueling fitness test: in full gear with SCBA tanks, we had to walk 4 large laps at a brisk pace, carry 2 fifty pound containers 100 feet, carry a hose up and down a flight of stairs twice, drag a 175 pound body 50 feet, climb a 24 foot ladder twice, and drag a charged hose 50 feet…..all under 14 minutes! Jodi completed her tasks in 8 and a half minutes, and Brad completed his in just over 8! We met with the Fire Chief every Tuesday and Thursday for a month, and now spend most of our Saturdays with Kent, one of the lieutenants/trainers completing practice drills. We should be able to complete the academy within the next few weeks and will be ready to participate in a “Burn and Learn” drill, where the department intentionally burns a house and has the volunteers practice. Once we successfully complete the academy, we will also be issued pagers and will start responding to calls.
Brad attended the Oregon Firearms Academy, defensive handguns class in Brownsville. The instructors were retired police officers, and one still leads the shooting academy for the County Sherriff’s department. Midway through the day, the lead instructor drove into the little town of Brownsville and right into a hostage situation at the local gas station. A guy and his girlfriend had pulled into the station; his girlfriend jumped out of the car and ran away, saying he was crazy. At the same time, a 16 year old girl pulled into the station and he took her hostage. The academy instructor grabbed his AK47 and police were on site within minutes. The standoff only lasted a little while; the guy was shot and killed. This was the local paper article from the following day.
Our neighbors Rhonda and Lance needed help getting out of their front drive, so Brad and Bob headed out at lunch time to plow the roads. Rhonda and Lindey took these great pictures…
Morgan absolutely LOVES the snow… and she LOVES to make puppy snow angels! Click on the link below for a short video of Morgan in the snow.
Video: Morgan Makes a Puppy Angel
We woke up to a VERY snowy Sunday morning – at least 6 inches and counting! Morgan just loves playing in the snow…one look at the white stuff and she was a puppy again.
Wishing all of our friends and family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2008!
Today we lost our little Lily to a hawk that pulled her away from the rest of the flock.
Rest in peace, Lily
March 21, 2006 – December 12, 2007
Our neighbor, Matt, announced rather suddenly his intentions to sell his house and move. With his move came a dilemma – what to do with the turkeys? Since the turkeys were part of the first impression Jodi had of JB Ranch, it was difficult to see them go…. so we adopted them! Billy Bob (Right) and Willy Bob (Left), collectively known as, “The Bobs”, are Royal Palm Turkeys and not meant for consumption. Their arrival at Thanksgiving time is purely coincidental. Both moved in to their new digs this past Sunday and after they have a few days to get used to their surroundings, we’ll give them free roam of the ranch…along with all the rest of the menagerie!
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