Chief's Monthly Report
West Valley Fire Department
Yakima County Fire District 12
For the Meeting June 10th, 2025
Agenda Topic: Department Monthly Progress Report
Prepared By: Chief Nathan Craig
Date Prepared: June 4th, 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 90, with 79 on-call members (58 operations, 14 support, and 7 on leave). No changes
Operations
In May there were a total of 98 alarms in the district, 31 were ambulance only calls.
Incidents: YTD Incidents by Zone YTD Zone
Station 51 13 38 19 71 (24%)
Station 52 11 57 24 110 (37%)
Station 53 8 44 16 85 (29%)
Station 54 5 22 8 29 (10%)
Station 50 30 (6 Duty) 134 295
Yakima 0 1
Ambulance Only 31 (6 Lift) 137
Total 433
Incident Type: Month Type YTD
Fire 10 5 bldg (2AA), 4 veg (1MA), 1 cook (MA)\ 29
EMS 60 50 EMS, 10 MVC 289
Hazardous Condition 0 5
Service Call 10 8 lift, 2 unauthorized burning 37
Good Intent 15 13 Smoke, 2 burning 32
False Alarm 6 4 AFA, 2 AMA 28
Action Taken: Month Type YTD
Canceled enroute 13 3 AFA, 2 EMS, 3 AA, 3 MVC, 1 Veg, 1 Burn 43
Extinguishment 6 2 building, 3 vegetation, 1 burn 24
Provide BLS 43 234
Assist Invalid 8 32
Investigate 25 3 MVC, 6 EMS, 13 smoke, 1 AFA, 1 CO, 1 Locked In 92
Other 1 Extricate 3
Automatic Aid Received (both agencies respond) Automatic Aid Given
From Highland 0 To Highland 0
From Yakima 4 To Yakima 3
From Gleed 0 To BIA 0
YTD 13 YTD 6
Mutual Aid Received 0 Mutual Aid Given 2 (YAK)
YTD 1 YTD 3
There were $121,200 in losses from two fires last month, both fires were in mobile harms and caused extensive damage to the structure and contents. Additionally, 20 acres of wildland were burned.
The first four weeks of Nurse Navigator there were 132 911 calls routed to the nurses, 78 of those resulted in a BLS ambulance response, 52 were navigated, and 2 resulted in an ALS response. Of the 52 navigated callers, 27 were able to perform self-care, 9 referred to a clinic, 9 were handled by a virtual doctor and 7 received a LYFT ride to the ER. Sixteen callers were unable to be assessed due to hanging up, physician directive, refusing triage, or was a third-party caller. The nurse line answers the calls on average in 15 seconds or less and the average amount of time on the phone with the patient is 8 minutes 40 seconds.
Response Times: (Target= within 1 mile of station 8 minutes or less, add 2 minutes every mile after) Qualifying Alarms: 44mo, 171yr, Target met: mo. 31 (70%) yr. 117 (68%), Target not met: mo. 13 (30%) yr. 54 (32%).
NFPA 1720 Responses for rural areas (6 FFs on scene within 14 minutes, 80% of the time). Incidents: 2mo, 11yr, target met mo. 1 (50%), yr 6 (55%), target not met: mo. 1 (50%) yr. 5 (45%).
Recruitment/Retention Prepared by DC Johnston
The Fall Recruit academy applications were due May 31st, we received six Firefighter applications, four Cadet applications, and one Support Service application. There will be a Meet & Greet on June 11th at the stations for the candidates followed by Physical Ability testing and Interviews on June 14th starting at 09:00.
Department Training and Safety Prepared by DC Johnston
May Drills included: Equipment Check / Station Drill, Natural Gas Emergencies, OTEP Workshop B (Cardiac, Toxicology, & HazMat), and Drafting. There is also a Wildland Refresher for the Sawyers.
Developed the June Drill Schedule: Equipment Check / Station Drill, EVIP Rodeo / Fit Testing, EVIP Road Course, and Officers Choice.
After the busy first two weeks of May no other extra training or classes took place in May.
On May 28th the Safety and Training Committee met for the 2nd quarter Safety and Training Meeting.
On June 3rd we hosted Yakima Fire Department with their Recruit Academy Live Fire training.
Budget/Finance Prepared by Officer Boisselle
The State Financial Report has been submitted. A copy is available in the packet for review.
Fire Prevention/Public Education Prepared by Officer Boisselle
The District did EMS stand by at the Wiley City Rodeo both days.
We once again hosted West Valley FFA’s Farm Day event on May 20 and 21. We had members showing off our engines and handing out stickers.
Interlocal Coordination
- PROQA:The dispatch steering group met to review nature codes, data, and ensure we are set to switch from Spillman codes to PROQA codes for dispatch July 1.
Logistics Updates
- Apparatus Updates:
- Brush 51: Under construction.
- Tender 52: Requested billing for DNR funding and progress report.
- Engine 54: Specifications are finalized.
· Carports:
o Permits received will be constructed this month.
· Tender Nozzles: Arrived being assembled and installed this month.
· Misc: Scene lighting, sparky, trailer decking, and ID badge maker all here or ordered.
· Purchasing Schedule:
o This month we are working on security cameras and displaying our hose cart.
Strategic Plan –
- Action Plan: Report in packet.
- Operational Assessment: Technical Report #2 is due this week.
- Public Forum: All seven RSVPs were for the 12:00 meeting, information will be provided to the board during the planning retreat.
- Planning Retreat Agenda: Draft agenda for review and requested additions.
Grants
- Legends Casino Grant: Not awarded again.
- FEMA: AFG SAFER and Prevention are open now, reviewing requirements for possible submission.
- Outstanding Requests: Ecology grant for EV fire blankets, DNR Ops, $100k for Brush 51 build, IAFC fuel reduction $5k for dump trailer, BLM slip tank.
Community Engagement and Events
- Association Events:
- Flea Market Training Grounds May 31st.
- Provided a Dollars for Scholars scholarship to a West Valley student.
· Wildfire Ready Events:
o The Chip it Don’t Burn it yard waste event held at Station 52 May 31st 0900-1300 took in 20 yards of chipped material and another 30 yards of debris
o Next event is Station 53 June 28th.
Good of the Order
· Blood Drives:
o Next Drive July 7th.
o 2024 Premier Red Cross partner with 215 units collected.
· Residential Burn Restrictions: The Fire Marshal has restricted outdoor burning June 1 to September 1.
· State Chiefs’ Conference:
o Presented on WSRB committee work with Director Brooks.
Respectfully,
Nathan Craig
Fire Chief