School fire safety and community education

In a win for kids and safety, passage of the levy means school fire-safety inspections have once again resumed. 

“We had a person assigned to school inspections and public education until staff cuts in 2009,” says Gresham Fire Marshal Shawn Durham. “We hadn’t conducted annual inspections since then, but now the levy is making it happen.”  

More than 70 public and private schools across several districts will be inspected in 2025, starting with elementary schools in the spring, and middle and high schools in the fall and winter. (As of May 2025, 23 inspections had already been completed, thanks to the levy.) 

Inspectors are checking for electrical hazards, safe pathways and exits, proper storage, fire extinguisher readiness, student fire drill practice times, and more, noting deficiencies where they find them and then working in partnership with local school districts to get them corrected.   

“There's a lot of square footage in those schools,” Durham said, but overall “they've done a good job of keeping up with things. We're there to help notice things that are just not as obvious to them.” 

“I am very happy that we're able to get back in the schools, and work with the school districts," Durham added. “The fire safety education we're providing to students, they take that home to their parents...parents are very excited that we are back inspecting the schools and providing that public education piece.” 

“Having the fire inspection and having them check everything around the school ensures that when the students come in to learn, and when the teachers come in to teach, that their classrooms and the school are safe.” — Steve Padilla, Director of Communications, Reynolds School District. 

Moving forward, inspections will occur on an annual basis.

Because of the levy, fire inspectors are also able to do more fire safety outreach. In March, for example, they installed smoke/carbon monoxide alarms at a local mobile home park, free of charge, with material support from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.