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