VRFA Fire Blotter: February 1 – 7, 2021

The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 256 calls for service for the week of February 1-7, 2021. Year to Date our Valley Professional Firefighters have responded to a total of 1,363 calls.  This is a -2.8% decrease from 2020 (1,402).

Call Breakdown:

204 (80%) were aid calls. Total aid calls in 2021 so far are 1,025(-3.7%, compared to 2020’s 1,064).

4 (2%) were fire calls. The number of fire calls is up by 82.4%, with 2021 having 31 calls and 2020 having 17.

48 (19%) were calls categorized as other. The number of other calls is down (-4.4%), with 2021 currently at 307 calls compared to 2020’s 321. 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. This site administered approximately 2,500 tests between January 24-31, 2021. Approximately 10% were positive. This approximate 7-day positivity rate is the same as the previous week (January 24-31, 2021) 7-day positivity rate of 10%.

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 18.3%, a 2.0% decrease since last week’s 14-day positivity rate check (20.3%). 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 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: (Auburn) On Monday, January 1 at 2:34 p.m., firefighters responded to a vehicle into a
  building. The driver and building occupant were uninjured. A City of Auburn structural engineer was
  called to the scene to assess the damage to the building.
• Aid Call: (South Auburn) On Monday, February 1 at 11:26 a.m., firefighters were requested by
  Auburn Police to evaluate a person in custody who was not speaking to police. Firefighters
  evaluated the patient, who spoke to firefighters and had no medical complaints. The patient
  remained in police custody.
• Motorhome Fire: (Bonney Lake) On Tuesday, February 2 at 08:39 a.m., firefighters responded to
  East Pierce Fire for a fully involved motorhome fire. VRFA personnel arrived and assisted with
  extinguishment of the fire and traffic control.
• Aid Call: (Auburn) On Wednesday, February 3 at 6:50 p.m. firefighters responded to a middle aged
  male who was having COVID like symptoms. The patient was evaluated by firefighters and then
  transported to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center via Tri Med.
• Vehicle Fire: (Algona): On Thursday, February 4 at 5:36 p.m., firefighters spotted a vehicle fire
  while driving on West Valley Highway South. Firefighters quickly donned their personal protective
  equipment and extinguished the fire. The fire is currently under investigation.
• Motor Vehicle Accident: (Auburn) On Friday, February 5, at 12:54 p.m., VRFA firefighters and King
  County paramedics responded to eastbound Highway 18 at the C St. onramp for a 4-car accident.
  Firefighters arrived and found that a semi-truck had rear-ended a group of vehicles and three noncritical patients were trapped in one of the vehicles. Firefighters utilized hydraulic equipment to
  tear the vehicles apart and remove the victims. Several patients were transported to local hospitals
  with non-life threatening injuries.
• Propane Tank Fire: (Lakeland Hills) On Saturday, February 6, at 6:03 p.m., firefighters responded
  to a report of a garage fire. Firefighters arrived to find the fire extinguished by residents. Residents
  stated the fire started while transferring propane between two small tanks. Damage to the structure
  and contents was minor.
• Aid Call: (Lakeland Hills) On Sunday, February 7 at 3:39 p.m., firefighters assisted a young male
  who had overdosed. The patient was treated at the scene and transported by Tri-Med to MultiCare
  Auburn Medical Center for further care.
• Aid Call: (Pacific) On Sunday, February 7 at 2:51 p.m., firefighters responded to an adult female
  who had overdosed. The patient was examined by firefighters on scene and transported by private
  ambulance to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Fire Investigations:

• FMO hosted the second week of a regional fire investigation training class instructed by ATF.
  Demonstrations of fire behavior and investigation processes we introduced to the class.
• On Saturday February 8, there was a small garage fire that was extinguished by the home owner.
  FM333 was dispatched and investigated the scene. The dollar loss was estimated to be $500.

C.A.R.E.S.

•  9 responses
• 16 referrals
• 5 new enrollments
• 6 enrollments closed
• 66 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.

*This rate is as of this publication and is based on King County data only.