The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 284 calls for service for the week of March 22-28, 2021. Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 3,182 calls. This is a .08% increase from 2020 (3,157).
Call Breakdown:
218 (77%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2021 so far are 2,417 (up 2.1%, compared to 2020’s 2,368).
6 (2%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 58.8%, with 2021 having 81 calls and 2020 having 51.
60 (21%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls is down (-7.3%), with 2021 currently at 684 calls compared to 2020’s 738. 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 2,600 tests between March 14 and 21. Approximately 8% were positive. This week’s rate is a 5% decrease from last week’s (March 14-21) rate of 10%.
The positivity rate of the C St SW testing site and the City of Auburn’s positivity rate are two different things. The City of Auburn’s positivity rate* for the past 14 days is 12.6%, a 1.7% decrease since last week’s 14-day positivity rate check (14.3%). Auburn’s current overall positivity rate is 10.4% of all tests (down .01% from last week). The C St SW testing site does not impact the positivity rate of the City of Auburn.
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! Please note – vaccines are available by appointment only.
Calls For Service:
- CPR: (Pacific) On Monday March 22 at 2:50 p.m., VRFA firefighters were dispatched for an obvious
patient found by family in the yard. Firefighters arrived, determined that the patient was viable
started CPR, and requested more resources. After attempting CPR for approximately an hour, crew
ceased efforts. A chaplain was requested for the family and the scene was turned over to Pacific
police. - CPR: (Auburn) On Tuesday, March 23 at 3:44 p.m., firefighters responded to an unconscious
patient. When firefighters arrived, they found CPR in progress. Treatment was taken over by VRFA
personnel and King County Medic One. The patient was then transported to MultiCare Auburn
Medical Center via Medic 6 with assistance from Aid 332. - Car Fire: (Pacific) On Wednesday, March 24 at 4:56 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a car on
fire near a building. Firefighters arrived to find a bystander with a fire extinguisher had put out the
fire. Minimal damage was caused to the car and firefighters assisted the owner with pushing the
vehicle off the road into a parking spot. - Aid Call: (Auburn) On Thursday, March 25 at 3:57 p.m., firefighters responded to a 50’s year old
male that was unconscious and unresponsive. Call came in as a CPR, but on arrival it was
determined the patient was overdosing. Paramedics gave the patient Narcan to wake him up. He
was transported alert and oriented to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance. - Elevator Rescue: (Auburn) On Friday, March 26 at 10:01 p.m., firefighters were dispatched for
people stuck in an elevator. Firefighters gained access to the elevator and extricated the occupants.
An elevator maintenance company arrived and the malfunctioning elevator was turned over to
them. - Residential Fire: (Algona) On Friday, March 26, 2021 at 17:08 p.m. firefighter were dispatched to
a detached garage fire. Enroute, the call was upgraded to a residential response. E338 arrived
first, ensured all occupants were out (the garage was a converted living space), and quickly
knocked down the fire. Once a standby team was in place, E338 entered the structure and finished
extinguishing the fire, performed a primary search and overhauled the room of origin. The cause
of the fire is under investigation. - Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Saturday, March 27 at 10:14 p.m., firefighters were
dispatched to a two-car motor vehicle accident. Firefighters arrived and found that all occupants of
the vehicles were able to get out on their own. None of the involved parties reported any injuries.
The scene was turned over to Auburn Police. - Tree Rescue: (Auburn) On Sunday, March 28 at 12:43 p.m., firefighters responded to a male
subject stuck in a tree after trying to rescue a cat. Firefighters were able to raise a ladder to his
location and the person was able to climb down with the cat. Both the cat and male subject were
unharmed.
Fire Investigations:
- On Wednesday, March 24, an accidental fire occurred in the 500 block of M ST NE in the City
of Auburn. The fire started in a detached garage of a single-family residence and was the result
of overloaded electrical circuits. Dollar loss is estimated at $20,000. - On Friday, March 26th, an accidental fire occurred in the 200 block of 8th Ave N in the City ofAlgona. The fire occurred in the detached garage of a single-family residence resulting in heavy
damage to the structure. The cause was determined to be a failure of electrical components.
Dollar loss is estimated at $15,000.
C.A.R.E.S.
- 9 responses
- 15 referrals
- 6 new enrollments
- 4 enrollments closed
- 62 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.
Be First to Comment