VRFA Blotter: Firefighters Take Patient’s Dog

For a walk, they took it for a walk. Yes, I just click baited you, now go read the fire blotter, then donate to the  LLS Firefighter Climb VRFA Team.

The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 286 calls for service for the week of February 28-March 6, 2022 (prev week 289). Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 2,763 calls for service. This is a 16.6% increase from 2021 (2,370).

This Sunday 13 Valley Professional Firefighters will be participating in the LLS Stair Climb. This event is only open to career, volunteer, or retired firefighters and raises funds for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

You can support the VRFA firefighters and their mission by making a donation to the team or one of the 13 climbers.

Valley Regional Fire Authority LLS Firefighter Climb Donation Page
There is presently (3/9) a matching donation, meaning your donation will be automatically matched. This match will last as long as the matching total is available.

Calls for Service Breakdown:

242 (85%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2022 so far are 2,345  (I love when numbers do this) up 14.7%, compared to 2021’s (2,042).

39 (14%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 24.7%, with 2022 having 358 calls and 2021 having 287.

5 (2%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls in 2022 is up (46.3%) with 60 2021 only having 41. ‘Other’ calls include water rescues, water over roadways, downed lines, hazmat calls, and ladder requests.

VRFA Calls for Service

• Aid Call: (Auburn) On Monday, February 28 at 2:50 p.m., firefighters assisted an adult female that was having seizures.  Firefighters assessed the patient then transported her to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center for further treatment.  The patient’s husband was deployed overseas and she did not have anyone to care for her 3 young children so firefighters brought the children to the hospital as well.  The patient said her dog needed to be walked so firefighters walked her dog and fed him.
• Landslide: (Auburn) On Monday, February 28 at 5:28 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of a landslide blocking both directions of the road. Firefighters closed the road to traffic and awaited City of Auburn to arrive.  The road remained closed until it could be safely investigated and cleared.
  (It’s only because no one was hurt that I can admit, every time. every time there’s a landslide that stupid song gets stuck in my head.)

• Auto Accident: (Auburn) On Tuesday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m., firefighters arrived moments after an adult male ran his classic muscle car into a telephone pole at a high rate of speed. Firefighters and paramedics assessed the man. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center by private ambulance.
  (But what about the car, did they assess its injuries?)

• Landslide: (Auburn) On Wednesday, March 1 at 11:29 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to West Bound Highway 18 and Peasley Canyon for a multi-car vehicle accident.  Firefighters arrived to find several vehicles along the side of the road that had been damaged but no injuries.  A landslide had let loose and had encroached onto Highway 18 causing damage to several vehicles.  Highway 18 was closed westbound and left in control of the Washington State Patrol.
  (Who thought it was a good idea to put two landslides? There were 286 calls, couldn’t have picked another? Stupid song…)

• Aid Call: (Lea Hill) On Thursday, March 3^rd at 9:46 a.m. firefighters responded to an adult male who was sprayed with pepper spray after a verbal confrontation. The patient was evaluated and refused any treatment or care by VRFA personnel. The patient was left on scene with Auburn P.D. per the patient’s request.
  (Eesh, spicy)

• Aid Call: (Pacific) On Friday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult female who suffered seizure-like symptoms. Firefighters evaluated the patient on scene. She was transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
  

• Aid Call: (Pacific) On Saturday, March 5 at 11:11 a.m., firefighters responded to a woman complaining of dizziness. The patient was treated by firefighters and transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.

Fire Investigations

• On Sunday, March 6, FM333 assisted with a vehicle into a building with fire and stabilization
  concerns. FMO staff documented the scene and contacted City of Auburn Building Officials. The
  fire cause was determined to be accidental, secondary to Motor Vehicle Accident.

C.A.R.E.S.

• 7  responses
• 15 referrals
• 8 new enrollment
• 8 enrollments closed
• 57 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, outside of the LLS Firefighter Climb, was provided by the Valley Regional Fire Authority.