Chief's Monthly Report
West Valley Fire
Department
Yakima County Fire
District 12
For the Meeting October
14, 2025
Agenda
Topic: Department Monthly
Progress Report
Prepared
By: Chief Nathan Craig
Date Prepared: October 2, 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
- Lt.
Jaeger: Services for Kiann were held September 26th,
we had a good turnout of Members and apparatus to support her family
during this difficult time. Our
Wellness group has been active with Members regarding her passing.
- Current
Staffing: Total personnel stand at 91, with 77 on-call members (60 operations,
10 support, 2 medical and 5 on leave).
Operations
In September there
were a total of 67 alarms in the district, 17 were ambulance calls.
Incidents: YTD Incidents by Zone YTD Zone
Station 51
7 72 13 129 (24%)
Station 52
4 104 13 190 (35%)
Station 53
8 92 16 161
(30%)
Station 54
3 41 8 57 (11%)
Station 50
28 (3 Duty) 228
537
Yakima
0 4
Ambulance Only
17 (4 Lift) 231
Total 772
Incident Type: Month Type YTD
Fire 3 1 bldg(AA), 1 veg 1 car 74
EMS 45 39 EMS, 6 MVC 502
Hazardous Condition 0
6
Service Call 7 7
lift
83
Good Intent 8 6
Smoke, 2 Outdoor Burn 50
False Alarm 4 AFA 43
Action Taken: Month Type YTD
Canceled enroute 6 1 AA, 1 EMS, 2 MVC, 2 AFA 63
Extinguishment 4 1
car, 1 veg, 2 outdoor burn
69
Provide BLS 38 407
Assist Invalid 7
69
Investigate 12 1MVC, 3 EMS, 2 smoke, 6 AFA
150
Other 0 5
Automatic Aid Received (both agencies respond) Automatic Aid Given
From Highland 0 To Highland 1
From Yakima 2 To Yakima 0
From Gleed 0 To BIA 0
YTD 18 YTD 17
Mutual Aid Received 0 Mutual Aid
Given 0
YTD 1 YTD 15
There was $500 in loss from an ATV fire last month. Additionally, 3 acres of wildland burned in
one incident last month.
Response Times: (Target= within 1 mile of station 8
minutes or less, add 2 minutes every mile after) Qualifying Alarms: 38mo, 346yr,
Target met: mo. 25 (66%) yr. 231 (67%), Target not met: mo. 13 (34%) yr. 135 (33%).
NFPA 1720
Responses for rural areas (6 FFs on scene within 14 minutes, 80% of the
time). Incidents: 0mo, 12yr, target met mo. 0
(%), yr 7 (58%), target not met: mo. 0 (%) yr. 6 (42%).
Department
Training and Safety Prepared by DC Johnston
September Drills
included: Equipment Check / Station Drill, OTEP Workshop C (OB / GYN and
Wounds), Family BBQ, and OTEP Module 4 (Respiratory & Infectious Diseases).
Developed the
October Drill Schedule: Equipment Check / Station Drill, OTEP Workshop D
(Respiratory & Infectious Diseases), Physical Ability Testing / SCBA
Quarterly, Live Fire Refresher, and Search.
The Recruits just
finished the bookwork / classroom portion of class; they took their Final Exam
on October 6th and IFSAC Firefighter 1 written test on October 9th. The remainder of the evening classes will
focus on practical skills as well as the Saturday classes. They will be doing Live Fire training on
October 28th and November 1st followed by IFSAC
Firefighter 1 skills testing on November 6th and 8th.
We hosted two
National Volunteer Fire Council classes on September 21st and 22nd.
On September 30th
I attended a Wildland Urban Interface Summit in Moses Lake. There were representatives from the State
Fire Marshals Office, Fire Departments, Insurance Industry, and
non-profits.
Recruitment & Retention Prepared by DC Johnston
Applications for the next hiring period will
be due November 30th, currently I have three applications. I will put signs out in the next couple of
weeks.
Budget/Finance Prepared by
Officer Boisselle
The 2026 Budget is on the agenda for
discussion. We will need to determine
our financing options.
We have been notified that our 2023-2025 accountability
audit will start the beginning of November.
I have a pre-audit zoom meeting with our auditor next week to discuss
the audit focus.
Fire Prevention/Public Education Prepared by Officer Boisselle
On September 19th,
West Valley staffed the Fire Prevention Booth at the Central WA State Fair.
Then on September 20th we had two engines participate in the SunFair
Parade.
Logistics Updates
- Apparatus Updates:
- Brush 51: Delivery set for mid-October.
- Tender 52: Still at General Fire, met at shop last month,
project is behind but moving forward, hope to be finished 4th
quarter.
- Engines: Pre-construction meeting went well on track for
summer 2026 delivery.
- Tender 53: Plan developed will include in 2026 budget for
repair/tank replacement.
· Carports: Station
51 and 52 completed.
· In Progress: Security
cameras, furniture. Asphalt sealing
moved to spring 2026 as advised by contractor.
· Station 52 & 54 Generators: Planning to award week of October 13th.
Strategic Plan –
- Action Plan: 3rd quarter update in packet. Starting 4th quarter.
- Operational Assessment: Recommendations will be used for updating
plan for 2026, continue the current five-year plan next year then complete
a full update in 2026.
Grants
- Fuel Reduction: Notified we
are awarded the dump trailer grant, however, due to several stipulations and
a tight timeline we were forced to not accept the grant.
Community Engagement and Events
·
Red
Cross Blood Drive: September
8th collected 34 units.
·
Wildfire
Ready Events:
o Final Chip it, Don’t Burn it event was held
September 13th with over 100 yards of material brought in. Four events planned in 2026 beginning in the
spring.
·
Association
Events:
o October 10th Potato Feed
o November 15th Bazaar
Respectfully,
Nathan
Craig
Fire
Chief