VRFA Blotter: Firefighters Are Pretty Useless Without Dispatchers

The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 269 calls for service for the week of  April 5-11, 2022 (prev week 269). Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 4,111 calls for service. This is an 11.7% increase from 2021 (3,682).Each one of VRFA’s calls for service are received and dispatched by 911 Telecommunicators from Valley Communications Center (ValleyComm).  Thank You Valley Comm Call Takers and Dispatchers!

Calls for Service Breakdown:

216 (80%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2022 so far are 3,472, up 8.5%, compared to 2021’s (3,200).

50 (18%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 33.2%, with 2022 having 562 calls and 2021 having 422.

5 (2%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls in 2022 is up (28.3%) with 77 calls in 2021 only having 60. ‘Other’ calls include water rescues, water over roadways, downed lines, hazmat calls, and ladder requests.

Congratulations to Firefighter Scott Masters! Masters received his five-year service recognition coin from VRFA yesterday! According to a post on the VRFA Facebook he is a “wildland fire red cardholder and deployed twice last summer to assist with wildfires out of state. Firefighter Masters serves as a Medical Program Specialist and is an engine and ladder truck driver.”

VRFA Calls for Service

• Service Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Monday, April 4 at 1:13 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of a tree into a home. The firefighter’s inspection found that the damage to the residence was non-structural. No injuries were reported from the incident.

• Aid Call: (Auburn) On Tuesday, April 5, at 1:13 p.m., firefighters and paramedics responded to reports of an unconscious adult female.  The patient was found to be unconscious with a pulse.  Firefighters and paramedics treated the patient on scene for a possible inter-cranial bleed.  The patient was transported to Harborview Medical Center for continued care.
  

• Outdoor Burn Complaint: (Lakeland Hills) On Wednesday, April 6^th at 7:00 p.m., firefighters investigated a report of smoke from an outdoor burn. Firefighters identified the location of the burn and made contact with the resident. Firefighters advised the resident of outdoor burning regulations and requested the resident extinguish the contained yard waste burn.

• Apartment Fire: (Auburn) On Thursday, April 7 at 4:25 a.m., VRFA, PSRFA and SKF&R units were dispatched to Auburn Manor Apartments for reports of a fire.  Units arrived to find smoke and fire from one unit.  Firefighters conducted searches of several units, extinguished the fire, and ventilated the roof of the building.  All occupants were able to evacuate themselves from the building.  No injuries were reported.  A fire investigator is conducting an origin and cause investigation.

• Encampment Fire: (Auburn) On Friday, April 8 at 8:55 a.m., firefighters responded to a brushfire behind the Coastal Farm Supply. Personnel arrived to find a 10’x 20’ fire that had engrossed a homeless camp. The fire was extinguished and the area was overhauled. The cause of the fire was undetermined.

• Aid Call: (Auburn) On Saturday, April 9 at 6:59 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult male who overdosed on marijuana edibles. Firefighters and King County Medics examined the patient on scene. Private ambulance transported the patient to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.
  (He’s either 2 years late or 11 days early).

• Aid Call: (Auburn) On Sunday, April 10 at 1:08 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult female with symptoms of stroke.  Firefighters and King County Medics examined the patient on scene.  A VRFA aid unit transported the patient to MultiCare Auburn.

Fire Investigations

• Fire Marshals investigated the Auburn Manor Apts fire. All occupants made it out of the fire safely.  Four units were affected by fire, smoke and water. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

C.A.R.E.S.

• 11 Responses
• 13 Referrals
• 6 New Enrollments
• 5 Enrollments Closed
• 52 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. Any notations included in parentheses should be considered opinion/commentary for entertainment purposes only.