'First priority is safety': Portland firefighters save victim from apartment blaze

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Portland Fire and Rescue crew spoke to the media after they rescued someone earlier this month from a burning building in Northwest Portland.

On Aug. 17, just before 9 a.m., crews were dispatched out to the fire. As they got there they learned someone was still inside one of the rooms.

Using the “Vent, Enter, Isolate, Search” method, firefighters climbed up to the room, found the victim, and carried him out down the ladder.

Dave Martin, one of the rescuers, is chalking up the rapid response to his training.

“We have one of the longest and most extensive training curriculums in the country,” he said. “So after hundreds of repetitions of the same drill on the training ground, encountering smoke after breaking a window, encountering a darkened room, encountering