The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 258 calls for service for the week of March 8-14, 2021. Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 2,663 calls. This is a -1.3% decrease from 2020 (2,698).
Call Breakdown:
199 (77%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2021 so far are 20,20 (-0.1%, compared to 2020’s 2,022).
5 (2%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 59.5%, with 2021 having 67 calls and 2020 having 42.
54 (21%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls is up (-9.1%), with 2021 currently at 576 calls compared to 2020’s 634. 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.
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 5.2%, a 5.3% decrease since last week’s 14-day positivity rate check (10.5%). 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. Two lanes of the C St SW testing site will be dedicated to vaccination appointments, meaning the location is now both a COVID-19 testing location and one of two South King County mass COVID-19 vaccine locations. Please note – vaccines are available by appointment only.
Calls for Service:
- Aid Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Monday, March 8 at 9:25 p.m., firefighters assisted an adult male
complaining of stroke symptoms. The patient was assessed by firefighters and transported by
private ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center for further treatment. - Aid Call: (Auburn) On Tuesday, March 9 at 4:15 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult male for a
possible overdose with CPR in progress. On arrival, a bystander had given the patient Narcan and
he was breathing and had a pulse. The patient was evaluated and then transported to a local
hospital by private ambulance. - Aid Call: (Auburn) On Saturday, March 6 at1:55 p.m., firefighters responded to a late 70’s female
possibly having a reaction to her COVID shot. Patient was stabilized and transported to MultiCare
Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance. - Gunshot: (Auburn) On Saturday, March 6 at 9:57 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult male with
a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Firefighters and King County Paramedics treated and
transported the patient in Medic-6 to Harborview Medical Center. - Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On March 11 at 2:39 a.m., firefighters responded to a motor
vehicle accident on westbound SR 18 west of SE 304th St. They arrived to find two vehicles
involved with heavy mechanism and both driver trapped. They stabilized the vehicles and used
hydraulic tools to extricate the entrapped drivers. Firefighters and King County Medics then
assessed the patients and treated them on scene. The two patients were airlifted to Harborview
Medical Center for further treatment.
- Injuries from a fall: (Auburn) On Wednesday, March 11 at 3:45 a.m., firefighters were dispatched
to the Taco Bell for a male that had fallen and had a head injury. Later firefighters learned from
APD that the patient was potentially a person that had walked away from a nearby motor vehicle
verses a tree. As the patient was being treated, his condition continued to deteriorate. King County
paramedics were requested. The patient was treated on the scene and taken to Harborview
Medical Center by paramedics and a firefighter. - Commercial Fire: (Auburn) On Thursday, March 11 at 6:20 p.m., firefighters from the VRFA, Puget
Sound RFA and South King Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a commercial fire on the north
end of Auburn. Firefighters confined the fire to the roof of the building. There were no injuries
reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. - Gunshot: (Auburn) On Saturday, March 13 at 12:05 a.m. firefighters responded to a young male
patient who had been fatally shot. The patient was evaluated by firefighters and King County Medic
One personnel. The scene was turned over to Auburn Police Department. - Aid Call: (Pacific) On Saturday, March 13h at 12:47 p.m., firefighters assisted an adult male who
swallowed heroin. The patient was treated by firefighters and transported to MultiCare Auburn
Medical Center by private ambulance.
Fire Investigations:
On Thursday, March 11, an accidental fire occurred in the 6600 block of S 287th St, in the City of Auburn. The fire started on the roof of a commercial building resulting in a multiple alarm response. Fire damage was limited to the roof with minor interior fire involvement. The fire remains a joint open investigation with Auburn Police. Dollar loss is estimated at $500,000.
C.A.R.E.S.
- 7 responses
- 18 referrals
- 4 new enrollments
- 6 enrollments closed
- 64 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.