Gaston Rural Fire District

The snow is gone … at least for now ... but it left many driveways badly damaged. Throw in a lot of rain and wind, and things can get really nasty really fast.

Just because your car or pickup can still make it up and down your slick, rutted driveway with its crumbling ditches, Gaston Fire’s large engines might not. That could slow our response to an emergency at your house, or even make access impossible.

Gaston Fire has been able to respond to every call this winter, but several homes have burned in other parts of the Portland area because firefighters had trouble getting up driveways. The time it takes to string hoses together up a long driveway can allow a small fire to become a very large problem. The time it takes to carry a heavy stretcher down a long driveway could mean the difference between life and death.

No one from the city or county will fix your driveway for you, so it is your responsibility to clear your own driveway, with one major exception: Never approach a downed power line, either on foot or in your car; call the power company immediately if lines fall anywhere on your property.

Remember that fire trucks and ambulances need a drivable surface at least 12 feet wide.

Here are some tips:

• If trees or branches fall on your driveway, move them at least four feet from each edge of your driveway.
• Divert water from your driveway to prevent flooding and erosion.
• Try to keep gravel on the driving surface so vehicles can get traction when things get muddy.
• Repair clogged or broken culverts or bridges to prevent erosion or, even worse, a collapse under the weight of a heavy truck.
• Keep ditches clear so water moves smoothly.
• Repair ruts and potholes.
• Fix or replace address signs as soon as possible if they get knocked over or bent so we can find you quickly in an emergency (click to here to request a sign from Gaston Fire).
• If your driveway runs along a ditch or hill, make sure the slope is solid. The weight of a fire truck could cause a weakened slope to collapse.
• Have cracks or indentations inspected. A crack could be an early warning sign of a sinkhole or landslide.

And remember, it’s not just Gaston Fire that might have trouble on a treacherous driveway. Package-delivery trucks, utility vehicles and many others need a clear, solid path to your home.