Below are just a few of the calls the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to for the week of October 26-November 1, 2020. VRFA firefighters responded to a total of 267 calls for service during this week. 205 were aid calls, 12 were fire calls, and 50 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 10,966 calls. This is a .05% decrease from 2019 11,019 calls). Total aid calls in 2020 so far are 8,060 (-1.4% compared to 2019’s 8,172). The number of fire calls is up by 4.6%, with 2020 having 383 calls and 2019 having 366. The number of other calls is also up (1.7%), with 2020 currently at 2,523 calls compared to 2019’s 2,481.

Read: COVID-19 Infection Rate Particularly High in Auburn and South King County

VRFA continues to work with fellow fire agencies, King County Medic One, and King County Public Health to run the Free COVID-19 testing site at the C St SE GSA site. While this is one of the largest testing sites in King County, all test results are will be tabulated to the home city (and county) of the patient, not Auburn (i.e. if an individual from Burien were to be tested at the GSA site their results would be counted toward Burien’s totals).

Calls for Service:

Motor Vehicle Accident: (Kent) On Monday, October 26 at 1:16 p.m., firefighters responded mutual aid with Puget Sound Fire Authority for a vehicle into a tree. VRFA firefighters assisted with patient extrication. The patients were treated by King County Medics.
Aid Call: (Lea Hill) On Tuesday, October 27, at 7:36 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult male who took medications to harm himself. Firefighters evaluated the man’s vital signs and spoke with poison control about the potential reactions the patient could experience. The patient was stable and transported to a local area hospital by private ambulance.
Vehicle Accident: (Lea Hill) On Wednesday, October 28 at 8:44 p.m., firefighters responded to two car T bone accident at SE 304th Street and Hwy 18. Two patients were treated for various injuries and transported to Multicare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (Lea Hill) On Thursday, October 29 at 11:15 a.m., firefighters responded to Green River College for a single vehicle that had collided with a metal barricade post. The driver of the vehicle was in custody for suspected DUI. The driver was complaining of back pain. He was taken by private ambulance to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center with a police officer following to the hospital.
Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Friday, October 30 at 10:41 p.m., firefighters responded to a rollover accident at M St SE and 27th St SE. The vehicle had struck a parked car and rolled. VRFA personnel arrived to find a single passenger car on its roof with the driver already out. He was evaluated and transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center by private ambulance for further treatment.
Mutual Aid Tender Fire: (Maple Valley) On Saturday, October 31 at 4:28 p.m., firefighters responded to a house fire in Puget Sound Regional Fire Authorities response area of Maple Valley. E334 and Tender 334 responded to assist with fire ground operations and water supply. E334 and Tender 334 supplied the fire attack engines with approximately 4,500-5,000 gallons of water. This operation was needed due to the nearest hydrant was one mile away. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the original structure and no injuries were reported.
Brush Fire: (Auburn) On Saturday, October 31 at 08:43 a.m., firefighters responded to a small brush fire at Baker Middle School. The fire was quickly extinguished and the Fire Marshal’s fire investigator was notified.
Residential Fire: (Pacific) On Monday, November 2, at 1:10 a.m., VRFA fire units responded to the 100 block of 5th Ave SW in Pacific for a house fire. Fire units arrived to find the attached garage fully involved. Crews quickly doused the flames and performed a search of the two story home. Residents had escaped prior to the fire department arriving. The fire was contained to the garage and there were no injuries reported. A VRFA fire investigator was on scene to determine the cause.

Fire Investigations:

On Sunday, November 1, an accidental fire occurred in the 100 block of 5th St SW in the City of Pacific. The fire was confined to the garage and contents with no structural extension. The cause of the fire was determined to be a battery failure from overcharging. Dollar loss is estimated to be $100,000.