Portland, Ore.

Portland firefighter Michael Strickland, 53, remains in serious condition following a bicycle-vehicle collision in which he sustained a closed head injury and several fractured ribs on Feb. 22 in Gresham. He was wearing a helmet at the time of his accident and doctors credit that with saving his life.

Strickland is a paramedic/deckhand with Boat 17 near Hayden Island and serves as a field training officer for paramedics within the Portland Fire Department. Boat 17 is one of three marine ambulances in the state. Strickland has worked with Portland Fire since 1982.

B.J. Strickland, Michael's wife, also is a firefighter/paramedic, working with the Gresham Fire Department, which is the agency that responded to the scene of his accident. While she was not one of the respondants to his accident, B.J. knows and works with those who treated her husband at the scene.

"I am tremendously grateful to the people from Gresham and Portland Fire and AMR (American Medical Response) who have done so much for Michael and our family, and I want to thank everyone in the EMS community and the public who have sent us their best wishes for his recovery," said B.J.

Strickland is a dedicated father of three and grandfather of one. He trailrides his two horses, kayaks and rafts local rivers, and has spent the past couple years refurbishing a sailboat he plans to sail when he retires. Strickland also has been a beacon of safety advocacy, serving as a member of the Portland Fire Dept. Continuous Quality Assurance Team and helping to teach safety in the community.

Donations can be made to the Michael D. Strickland Recovery Fund at any local U.S. Bank.

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