The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 239 calls for service for the week of January 18-24, 2021. Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 864 calls. This is a -2.9% decrease from 2020 (890).
Call Breakdown:
168 (70%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2021 so far are 637 (-.7.9%, compared to 2020’s 692).
9 (4%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 166.7%, with 2021 having 24 calls and 2020 having 9.
62 (26%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls is down (7.4%), with 2021 currently at 203 calls compared to 2020’s 189. 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 facility. This site administered approximately 3,200 tests between January 11-23, 2021. Approximately 13% were positive. This 13-day positivity rate is a -.3.1 decrease from the January 4-10, 2021 positivity rate.
The positivity rate of the C St SE 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 25.1%, a 5.3% decrease since last week. The C St SE testing site does not impact the positivity rate of the City of Auburn.
Calls for Service:
- Aid Call: (Lea Hill) On Monday, January 18 at 7:43 a.m., firefighters responded to an adult female that was reported to be unconscious. Firefighters arrived to find a bystander performing CPR. Firefighters took over patient care and determined that the patient was deceased. VRFA and Auburn PD assisted with contacting the patient’s family.
- Aid Call: (Pacific) On Thursday, January 19 at 5:23 p.m., firefighters responded to an elderly male complaining of abdominal pain. The patient was evaluated by firefighters and King County Medic One then transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
- Assault: (Lea Hill) On Wednesday, January 20 at 3:42 p.m., firefighters responded to an apartment complex for a male patient who said he had tripped and struck his head on a curb. As firefighters entered the complex they were flagged down by another man, who was covered in blood, and said he had been assaulted. Auburn police responded to secure the scene and investigate. It was determined the two men had been in an altercation with each other. One of them was transported to the hospital with a head injury. The other was in police custody.
- Aid Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Thursday, January 21st at 6:52 p.m., firefighters responded to 67 year old male who was COVID positive and experiencing general weakness. Firefighters evaluated the patient. The patient was transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
- Aid Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Friday, January 22 at 3:10 p.m., firefighters assisted an adult female who had been struck by a car. The patient was treated by firefighters and King County Medics and flown by Airlift Northwest to Harborview for further care.
- Aid Call: (Auburn) On Saturday, January 23 at 3:42 p.m., firefighters assisted a female complaining of shortness of breath. The patient was transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
- Illegal Burn: (Algona) On Sunday, January 24 at 11:15 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to an illegal burn complaint. Upon arrival firefighters found the resident burning brush, the resident put the fire out, and was referred to VRFA website for information on outdoor burning.
Fire Investigations:
There were no new calls for investigative services in the last week.
C.A.R.E.S.
- 4 responses
- 18 referrals
- 6 new enrollments
- 3 enrollments closed
- 66 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.