Following the fire at the City’s Public Works Facility this past weekend, our Public Works Director, Chris Randall, wanted to provide an update on how the City will move forward and provide answers to a few questions we have received.
“As many of you know, we had a fire destroy our shop at the Public Works Facility. We’re so grateful nobody was injured. I want to thank our community for the outpouring of support we’ve received. I also want to personally thank the emergency response crews. Many of you have been wondering what this means for the services we provide. You need to know we’re a resilient team. We’re experienced at responding to emergencies and I’m 100% confident we can continue to deliver at a high level. Our first priority is to ensure we have the tools and resources to maintain our parks and streets and to be able to respond to immediate emergencies. We’ve already begun the process to secure the equipment we need so that essential services can continue with minimal interruption. We’re also forecasting ahead to make sure we have the right equipment and supplies to respond to inclement weather this winter. We’re also actively pursuing a few options for temporary storage to keep our tools and equipment secure. Some non-essential services might take us a little longer, so my only ask is for residents to be patient. Lastly, we have great partners at other neighboring cities and with other local agencies who immediately sent offers to support. I want to make sure you know that Happy Valley is still in good hands with a resilient team. Thanks again to everyone for your support.”
Community Questions and Answers:
- How did the fire start?
Clackamas Fire District is handling the investigation into the cause. They have determined that a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) parked inside the building ignited, causing the structure to catch fire. At this time, the exact cause of the UTV’s ignition has not been determined, however the investigation is ongoing.
- What was the building being used for?
The building was a utility facility that stored equipment, tools and materials for the City’s street and park maintenance work.
- How will City services be impacted?
Our first priority is to ensure we have the tools and resources to maintain our parks and streets and to be able to respond to immediate emergencies. We’re also planning ahead and have begun securing the equipment and supplies we will need to respond to inclement weather this winter. In the meantime, some non-essential services might take a little longer than usual, so we ask for the community’s patience.
- Will the City be able to purchase new equipment? How will that be paid for?
The City is working with our insurance provider to replace the equipment and tools that we need to carry out our road and park maintenance work.
- Why was a shelter in place issued during the fire?
Due to the materials present within the facility, Clackamas Fire issued a shelter in place out of an abundance of caution. Once they were able to perform air monitoring tests, they determined it was safe to end the shelter in place
- How can people sign up for emergency alerts?
The emergency alert system is managed by Clackamas County. Residents can sign up by visiting www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts