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Chief's Monthly Report

West Valley Fire Department

Yakima County Fire District 12

For the Meeting August 12, 2025

 

Agenda Topic:             Department Monthly Progress Report

Prepared By:              Chief Nathan Craig

Date Prepared:           August 5, 2025

 

The purpose of this report is to update the Board of Fire Commissioners, Officers Management Team, and fire personnel on recent department activities and progress on strategic objectives.

 

Personnel

  • Current Staffing: Total personnel stand at 95, with 84 on-call members (60 operations, 14 support, 1 Light Duty, 2 medical and 7 on leave). 
  • Our Support Services/EMS only Member and one firefighter on leave are moving and resigned.

Operations 

In July there were a total of 95 alarms in the district, 27 were ambulance calls.

Incidents:                                                         YTD                   Incidents by Zone       YTD Zone               

Station 51                   10                   55                                18                    102 (24%)

Station 52                   16                   88                                21                    155 (36%)

Station 53                   15                   68                                22                    126 (30%)

Station 54                   7                     34                                7                      43 (10%)

Station 50                   20 (3 Duty)     181                               426

Yakima                        0                     3                                 

Ambulance Only         27 (6 Lift)        188                             

Total                                                    617

 

Incident Type:                        Month            Type                                                                YTD

            Fire                              20                    2 bldg, 13 veg (4MA, 3AA), 1 car, 4 other            60

            EMS                             53                    49 EMS, 4 MVC                                               396

            Hazardous Condition 1                      Gas Leak                                                          6

            Service Call                 12                    10 lift, 1 unauthorized burning, 1 tree remove 62

            Good Intent                7                      7 Smoke                                                          41

            False Alarm                 2                      2 AFA                                                              38

           

 

Action Taken:                         Month            Type                                                                YTD

            Canceled enroute       8          2 AA, 2 AFA, 4 EMS                                                      52

            Extinguishment          18        5 MA, 1 car, 6 vegetation, 2 bldg, 4 other                   56

            Provide BLS                 40                                                                                            319

            Assist Invalid               10                                                                                              52

            Investigate                  19        1MVC, 8 EMS, 7 smoke, 1 burning, 1 gas, 1 service                        125

            Other                          0                                                                                                 4

 

Automatic Aid Received (both agencies respond)    Automatic Aid Given                                    

From Highland             0                                  To Highland                0

From Yakima               2                                  To Yakima                   3

From Gleed                 0                                  To BIA                         0

YTD                 16                                            YTD                 12       

 

Mutual Aid Received 0                                  Mutual Aid Given       5 (YAK X3, Dist 9, Dist 2)

            YTD                             1                                              YTD                 13       

 

There were $56,500 in losses from three fires.  A structure fire caused $11k, a hay shed with hay $23k, and a fire involving two vehicles $22,500.   Additionally, 18 acres of wildland were burned several fireworks fires started on the fourth with the largest being 10 acres.

 

We responded with a brush truck to Stevens County last month for a state mobilization request. 

 

Our new response zones and CAD recommendations are live in Spillman.

 

Response Times:(Target= within 1 mile of station 8 minutes or less, add 2 minutes every mile after) Qualifying Alarms: 44mo, 260yr, Target met: mo. 28 (64%) yr. 174 (67%), Target not met: mo. 16 (36%) yr. 106 (33%).

NFPA 1720 Responses for rural areas (6 FFs on scene within 14 minutes, 80% of the time).             Incidents: 1mo, 12yr, target met mo. 1 (100%), yr 7 (58%), target not met: mo. 0 (0%) yr. 6 (42%).

Department Training and Safety Preparedby DC Johnston

July Drills included: Equipment Check / Station Drill, OTEP Module 3 (OB / GYN & Childbirth), Highland and Gilbert Fruit Walk-thru, SCBA Quarterly / FF Skills, and Safety Stand Down (Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health Reset”).

Developed the August Drill Schedule: Equipment Check / Station Drill / 2026 Budget Request items, Ladder Fundamentals, Multi-Company Operations @ Highland Fruit, and Water Supply & Hose Handling.

On August 4th the Recruits had their Orientation.

On August 9th and 10th the Recruits had two of the Advanced First Aid classes with the final one scheduled for August 16th.  The Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services is instructing the class.

I applied for and received a grant from Washington State L & I FIIRES (Firefighter Injury & Illness Reduction) program for just under $10,000.  With this grant we will be purchasing 80 particulate blocking hoods for structural firefighting, the order was placed on July 29th.

 

 

Budget/Finance Prepared by Officer Boisselle

The Officers have been tasked with preparing their stations 2026 budget proposals. They are due August 25th.

Fire Prevention/Public Education Prepared by Officer Boisselle

On August 2nd Station 52 participated in the Wiley Union Church’s summer carnival event.

JR Safety Academy is scheduled for August 22nd.

The 3rd edition of our District Newsletter will be going out in mailboxes mid-August.

Interlocal Coordination

  • OIC Wildfire Mitigation:We have heard from many experts in risk reduction and mitigation; at this time, I am unsure what direction OIC will take in reducing non-renewals and cancelations due to wildfire risk in WA state.
  • BOCC Outdoor Burning:Meetings scheduled August 7th, 20th and September 4th. 

Logistics Updates

  • Apparatus Updates:
    • Brush 51: Manufacturer advised they will be about 2 weeks late; there is a penalty clause in our contract.
    • Tender 52: Still at General Fire.
    • Engines: On order, lease paperwork finalized.

·       Hydrants: All hydrants inspected, re-painted and new numbering system developed.

·       In Progress: Security cameras, rescue manikin.

·        Purchasing Schedule:

o   This month asphalt sealing.

Strategic Plan

  • Action Plan: Update in packet.
  • Operational Assessment: Finalized, copies emailed to Board, Staff, and Officers, Angle Group to present August 26th 16:00. 

Grants

  • New Submitted: NVFC electrolyte packets for rehab. (Awarded)
  • Awarded: L&I particulate hoods.
  • Outstanding Requests: Ecology grant for EV fire blankets, AFG Engine 54.
  • Not Awarded: IAFC dump trailer, BLM slip tank.

Community Engagement and Events

·        Wildfire Ready Events:

o   The Chip it Don’t Burn it yard waste event held at Station 54 July 12th took in 20 yards of chipped material and another 30 yards of debris.

o   The Chip it Don’t Burn it event at Station 53 August 2nd took in 60 yards of debris and 25 yards of chipped material.

o   The final event of 2025 is Station 51 September 13th.

Good of the Order

·        Fire Commissioner Association:

o   Meeting August 21st @ East Valley.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Nathan Craig

Fire Chief

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