PORTLAND, Ore. — Throughout the Portland metro area, first responders and crews have done essential work to clean up after the storm, restore power and save lives. Below-freezing temperatures and ice made this work even more challenging.
Although they prepare to handle any situation or emergency, especially in conditions like we've seen in the past week, they're worn out. However, they said they're happy to come to the aid of those in need.
Portland firefighters explained the past several days put a definite strain on their team, as they responded to more fires, frozen pipes, accidents and injuries.
"We are dealing with cold. It's difficult to drive. It's difficult to access calls. The equipment doesn't want to work the same and then the run volume goes up," explained Battalion Chief Dustin Miller with Portland Fire and Rescue, "So typically, we're looking at 377 non-medical emergency calls on any given January day for the city on average. Now, we're looking at anywhere from 600 to 900."
"It's been challenging," said firefighter paramedic Dave Martin, "We are getting tired, but I think that we also have been relying on our daily routine to keep us going."
"We love the job. We love coming here and doing this; this is fun for us. Different job every day, so we wouldn't trade it for anything, but it does take a toll on you," said Lieutenant Jon White.
Although the exhaustion's setting in at Station 3, the firefighters there told KGW the life-saving work is still worth it.
"It's very tiring. I mean, there's a lot of tired faces around here in the morning and really through day, but I think behind those tired faces are some pretty big smiles," said Miller, "Because you get to do what you signed up to do, and there's some purpose in when we go out."
Across the area, line workers and power crews echo those feelings.
"Doing this part right here, storm work — it's probably my favorite part of my job," said Kenny Cudd with Clark Public Utilities, "After a while... you're ready to go home, but it's definitely exciting."
Service workers for the utility in Vancouver told KGW it's gratifying to get the power back on for customers, even when conditions become potentially dangerous.
"All of these trees are loaded with ice and snow," said Cudd, "so once that wind hits, it's just like matchsticks."
"There's a larger amount of people that are super grateful for what we're doing right now. It's rewarding to us... It makes it all that much easier for us at the end of the day," said serviceman Jared Eddings, "I think this particular ice storm — there's only in my 20-plus years here at the utility, there's only been one other time where the ice has been worse than this, and that was back in 2004 ... but this has definitely caused more of an issue for us this time."