Below are just a few of the calls the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to for the week of November 30-December 6, 2020. VRFA firefighters responded to a total of 263 calls for service during this week. 195 were aid calls, 11 were fire calls, and 47 were categorized as other. Other calls include water rescues, HazMat calls, and ladder requests.

Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 12,221 calls. This is a .01% decrease from 2019 (12,235 calls). Total aid calls in 2020 so far are 9,012 (-0.6% compared to 2019’s 9,066. The number of fire calls is up by 7.2%, with 2020 having 417 calls and 2019 having 389. The number of other calls is also up (0.4%), with 2020 currently at 2,792 calls compared to 2019’s 2,780.

The Valley Professional Firefighters need your help to ensure they can provide toys for kids in need in Auburn, Algona, and Pacific. Their fundraising efforts are limited to online due to COVID-19. A $5 donation can make a tremendous difference for a child in our community. Donate Now

Calls for Service:

CPR in Progress: (Auburn) On Monday, November 30 at 12:35 p.m., firefighters and King County medics were dispatched to an unconscious adult male. Call receivers were giving instructions to the family on how to perform CPR. Firefighters and King County Medic One arrived to find the patient without a pulse. CPR and resuscitation efforts continued during transport to a local hospital via Medic One.

auburn fire, vrfa, valley regional fire authority, king county medic one, cools cafe, cools cafe fire, — VRFA, Puget Sound Fire, and South King Fire & Rescue crews work to put out the fire at the former Cools Cafe building | for the Auburn Examiner

Commercial Structure Fire: (Pacific) On Tuesday, December 1 at 5:38 a.m., Valley Regional, Puget Sound, and South King Firefighters responded to the old Cool’s Café building for a reported fire. Crews arrived to find smoke from the building and attempted access. Crews initially attempted to aggressively attack the fire but conditions changed and crews backed out and began defensive fire operations. Crews applied water and utilized an excavator to extinguish the fire. The scene was turned over to the building owner after investigators determined the origin and cause.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Tuesday, December 1, at 11:35 p.m., VRFA firefighters and King County paramedics responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Northbound Hwy 167 at Ellingson. Firefighters arrived to find two vehicles on fire including a dump truck and a pick-up.
A motorcycle was also involved. Firefighters also found two patients deceased at the scene and a third patient that had minor scratches and did not want to be evaluated. No patients were transported.
Aid Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Thursday, December 3, at 12:30 p.m., firefighters responded to assist an ill infant. Personnel treated the patient at the scene and her parents transported her to her pediatrician for further care.
Aid Call: (Auburn) On Friday, December 4 at 4:05 p.m., firefighters assisted an adult male that had been assaulted with a machete. Firefighters and King County Medics assessed the patient and treated him on scene. Then medics transported him to Valley Medical Center for further treatment.
Stabbing: (Lea Hill) On Saturday, December 5 at 4:15 p.m., firefighters responded to a middle-aged male patient who had been stabbed. The patient was evaluated by firefighters and King County Medics and then transported to Harborview Medical Center.
Aid Call: (Auburn) On Sunday, December 6 at 7:20 p.m., firefighters responded to a middle-aged woman who had mistaken Super Glue for eye drops, and had glued her eyelid to her eyeball with the eyelid completely shut. She was treated at the scene by firefighters, and transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
Overdose: (Auburn) On Sunday, December 6 at 2:02 p.m., firefighters responded to a young female patient who had overdosed on Fentanyl. The patient was treated on location by firefighters and transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center via private ambulance.

VRFA Fire Inspections:

On Tuesday, December 1, a commercial fire occurred in the 4500 block of A St SE in the City of Auburn. VRFA units arrived to find smoke and flames in a long time abandoned building. A prolonged defensive firefight resulted in heavy damage to the structure. Dollar loss is estimated at $350,000 for the structure.

C.A.R.E.S. Calls:

9 responses
19 referrals
9 new enrollments
6 enrollments closed
54 patients currently 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.

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