Below are just a few of the calls the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to for the week of August 3-9, 2020. VRFA firefighters responded to a total of 257 calls for service during this week. 190 were aid calls, 13 were fire calls, and 54 were categorized as other. Other calls include water rescues, HazMat calls, and ladder requests.
Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 7,697 calls. This is a 5.0% decrease from 2019 (8,103 calls). Total aid calls in 2020 so far are 5,716 (-5.3% compared to 2019’s 6,035). The number of fire calls is down by 14.4%, with 2020 having 238 calls and 2019 having 278. The number of other calls is also down (2.6%), with 2020 currently at 1,743 calls compared to 2019’s 1,790.
There is currently a burn ban in both King and Pierce Counties.
911 Calls for Service
- Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Monday, August 3, 2020 at 10:00 p.m., firefighters responded to a single vehicle rollover accident on westbound Highway 18, just prior to the C St SW off-ramp. The pick-up truck was on its passenger side with significant damage and side air bags deployed. There were two occupants in the vehicle; both wearing seat belts and neither were injured. Washington State Patrol was investigating the cause of the accident.
- Motor Vehicle Accident: (Lakeland Hills) On Tuesday, August 4 at 7:35 p.m., firefighters responded to a car vs pedestrian accident. The injured pedestrian was complaining of head pain and transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
- 2nd Alarm Fire: (Maple Valley) On Wednesday, August 5 at 5:27 p.m., firefighters responded to an abandoned structure on fire. The fire had spread to the surrounding forest. VRFA crews were on scene for five hours helping to contain the fire and protect nearby homes.
- Aid Call: (Lea Hill) On Thursday, August 6 at 6:52 a.m., firefighters responded to a middle aged female in cardiac arrest. CPR was initiated. Despite all medical efforts by firefighters and King County Medics, the patient expired at the scene.
- Passenger Vehicle Fire: (Algona) On Friday, August 7, 2020 at 5:01 p.m. E338 was dispatched to reports of a vehicle filled with smoke. On arrival, VRFA personnel found a fire inside the vehicle and the car was fully charged with smoke. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, investigated the cause and origin. The cause was determined to be accidental, and turned the vehicle back over to the owner.
- Vehicle Fire: (Auburn) On Saturday, August 8 at 5:24 p.m., firefighters responded to a fully involved vehicle fire from a previous single vehicle accident into a ditch. Personnel used a single hose line to extinguish the vehicle and several trees surrounding it. The fire also caused damage to two tow trucks that were being used to pull the car out of the ditch. The fire was investigated by the VRFA Fire Marshal’s office.
- Motorcycle vs. Vehicle: (Auburn) On Sunday, August 9 at 12:05 p.m., firefighters responded to a MVA involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. Crews arrived to find the motorcyclist down with multiple injuries. Firefighters and King County Medics treated the patient on scene then medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment.
Fire Marshal Investigations
The Fire Marshal’s office investigated the cause and total damage of a motor vehicle accident and passenger car fire.
The above information was provided by Valley Regional Fire Authority.