The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 278 calls for service for the week of April 26-May 2, 2021. Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 4,573 calls. This is a 7.6% increase from 2020 (4,251).

Call Breakdown:

223 (80%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2021 so far are 3,488 (up 10.8%, compared to 2020’s 3,149).

6 (2%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 41.8%, with 2021 having 129 calls and 2020 having 91.

49 (18%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls is down (-5.4%), with 2021 currently at 965 calls compared to 2020’s 1,011. Other calls include water rescues, HazMat calls, and ladder requests.

COVID-19 Testing Site

Specially trained VRFA EMTs assisted the King County Health Department in COVID-19 testing drive-up and walk-up residents at the GSA Complex. This site administered approximately 3,000 tests between April 25 and May 1. Approximately 5% were positive. This is a decrease of 2% from the previous week’s rate of 7%.

The King County Auburn Drive-Thru Testing Site Has Moved.

The positivity rate of the C St SW testing site and the City of Auburn’s positivity rate are two different things. The C St SW testing site does not impact the positivity rate of the City of Auburn.

The City of Auburn’s positivity rate* for the past 14 days is 12.4%, a 1.1 % increase since last week’s 14-day positivity rate check (11.3%). Auburn’s current overall positivity rate is 10.2% of all tests (same as last week).

Specially Trained VRFA EMTs assisted the King County Health Department in administering COVID-19 vaccines at the GSA Complex. The location is now both a COVID-19 testing location and one of two South King County mass COVID-19 vaccine locations.

The Auburn COVID-19 vaccine location has moved to the Outlet Collection!Auburn and Kent COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Now Have Walk-in Availability

Calls for Service

Aid Call: (Auburn) On Monday, April 26 at 7:10 p.m., firefighters responded to a 60’s year old female who was unconscious and unresponsive. Patient was evaluated and stabilized by fire crews and then evaluated by paramedics. Patient was then transported by private ambulance to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.
Motor Vehicle Collision: (Auburn) On Tuesday, April 27 at 5:04 p.m., firefighters responded to motor vehicle collision on southbound SR 167 at W Main St. They arrived to find six vehicles involved. Firefighters assessed multiple patients and transported one to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center for further treatment.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (North Auburn) On Wednesday, April 28 at 7:13 p.m., firefighters responded to a hit-and-run accident with heavy mechanism. Firefighters treated one vehicle occupant for injuries. Firefighters transported the patient to Valley Medical Center.
Residential Fire: (Auburn) On Thursday, April 29 at 12:36 p.m., firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from the garage of a residence. The smoke quickly turned to flames and firefighters extinguished the fire. Firefighters also conducted a search of the residence and checked for fire extension. No occupants were injured. Cause of the fire is being investigated.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Friday, April 30 at 1:00 a.m., VRFA firefighters and King County paramedics responded to a 2-car motor vehicle accident on Highway 18 at Weyerhaeuser Way. Units arrived to find heavy mechanism to the vehicle. One critical patient was trapped and needed extricated from the vehicle. He was treated at the scene and transported to Harborview Medical Center by paramedics. The second patient had minor injuries and was evaluated at the scene. She decided not to go to the hospital and was left at the scene.
Passenger Vehicle Fire: (South Auburn) On Saturday, May 1 at 8:52 p.m., firefighters responded to a fully involved passenger vehicle fire on the shoulder of Westbound SR 18 at Weyerhaeuser WY. Firefighters extinguished the fire and turned the scene over to WSP.
Aid Call: (Lea Hill) On Saturday, May 1 at 9:54 p.m., firefighters responded to fight in a parking lot involving 8 – 10 individuals. Auburn Police secured the scene, and then requested VRFA units to check the involved parties. There was only one person who was detained by police, who had minor scratches to her face. She was treated at the scene by firefighters, and remained detained by APD.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Sunday, May 2 at 10:58 p.m., firefighters and King County Medic One paramedics were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident. Firefighters found two vehicles that had suffered significant damage. A single male was trapped in one of the vehicles who needed to be extricated from the vehicle using the “Jaws of Life”. He was treated at the scene by firefighters and paramedics, and then transported to Harborview Medical Center by Airlift Northwest. At the same time, firefighters evaluated five passengers in the second vehicle and they were transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance with minor injuries

Fire Investigations

There were no new calls for service for the Fire Investigation Unit.

C.A.R.E.S.

9 responses
23 referrals
3 new enrollments
8 enrollments closed
65 total patients enrolled

The Community Assistance, Referrals, and Education Services (CARES) is a joint program between VRFA, King County Emergency Medical Services division South King Fire & Rescue, Enumclaw, and Mountainview Fire and Rescue departments. Each CARES response vehicle is staffed 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. by one firefighter from each department and a social worker. The CARES unit is sent on less emergent calls in non-transport capable vehicles to provide basic patient evaluation, assistance, specific basic life support treatment on scene, and arrange for transport if medically necessary. CARES also referred patients to community services where needed.

The above information was provided by the Valley Regional Fire Authority.

*This rate is as of this publication and is based on King County data only