Chief's Monthly Report

West Valley Fire Department

Yakima County Fire District 12

For the Meeting November 11, 2025

Agenda Topic:           Department Monthly Progress Report

Prepared By:             Chief Nathan Craig

Date Prepared:          November 6, 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

• Cpt. Vetsch: Station 53 Captain Brian Vetsch retired last month after 30 years of service; we will celebrate Brian at the annual awards banquet.
• Cpt. Gohl: Mike Gohl has been promoted to Station 53 Captain effective November 1^st.  Mike is an outstanding leader and will excel in his new position.
• Resignations: Preston Conrad (Support) and Lisa Lennington (51) have resigned.
• Current Staffing: Total personnel stand at 86, with 72 on-call members (56 operations, 10 support, 2 medical and 5 on leave). 
• Policy 2110 Activity Requirements: We had 11 Members receive their 3^rd and final low activity level letter following the 3^rd quarter. Captains are meeting with these Members to determine their future with WVFD.
• Training Captain- Posted, applications due 11-21.

Operations 

In October there were a total of 82 alarms in the district, 26 were ambulance calls.

Incidents:                                                        YTD               Incidents by Zone            YTD Zone                 

Station 51                    4                     76                                10                    139 (24%)

Station 52                    14                   118                              30                    220 (37%)

Station 53                    6                     98                                13                    174 (29%)

Station 54                    2                     43                                3                      60 (10%)

Station 50                    30 (0 Duty)    258                                                      593

Yakima                       0                     4                                 

Ambulance Only         26 (6 Lift)      257                             

Total                                                   854

Incident Type:                       Month            Type                                                                           YTD

            Fire                             8                      5 bldg(3MA), 2 veg 1 pole                                         82

            EMS                            52                    45 EMS, 7 MVC                                                         554

            Hazardous Condition  1                      Powerline                                                                    7

            Service Call                12                    Lift                                                                              95

            Good Intent                 3                      Smoke                                                                          53

            False Alarm                5                      AFA                                                                            48

Action Taken:                       Month            Type                                                               YTD

            Canceled enroute        3          2 EMS, 1 AFA                                                            66

            Extinguishment          9          5 bldg (3AA), 2 veg, 1 burn, 1 pole                           78

            Provide BLS               47                                                                                            454

            Assist Invalid              12                                                                                              83

            Investigate                  10        2MVC, 1 EMS, 3 smoke, 4 AFA                                           160

            Other                           1          Remove Hazard                                                             6

Automatic Aid Received (both agencies respond)   Automatic Aid Given                                              

From Highland           2                                  To Highland                2

From Yakima              3                                  To Yakima                  0

From Gleed                 0                                  To BIA                        0

YTD                23                                            YTD                19       

Mutual Aid Received            0                                  Mutual Aid Given     2 (Dist. 5 & 9)

            YTD                            1                                              YTD                17       

There were a total of $59,700 in losses last month, a shed fire totaled $14k, a cooking fire $700 and a vehicle collision with a house $45k. 

Response Times: (Target= within 1 mile of station 8 minutes or less, add 2 minutes every mile after) Qualifying Alarms: 39mo, 385yr, Target met: mo. 27 (69%) yr. 258 (67%), Target not met: mo. 12 (31%) yr. 147 (33%).

NFPA 1720 Responses for rural areas (6 FFs on scene within 14 minutes, 80% of the time).             Incidents: 1mo, 13yr, target met mo. 1 (100%), yr 8 (62%), target not met: mo. 0 (0%) yr. 6 (38%).

Department Training and Safety Prepared by DC Johnston

October Drills included: Equipment Check / Station Drill, OTEP Workshop D (Respiratory & Infectious Diseases), Physical Ability Testing / SCBA Quarterly, Live Fire Refresher, and Search. 

Developed the November Drill Schedule: Equipment Check / Station Drill, Multi-Company Operations, and Hazardous Materials Refresher.

On October 24^th I emailed the Training Captain announcement to the Yakima County Chiefs and Training Officers email distribution lists. I am hopeful that this position will start no later than February 2^nd. 

On October 25^th we hosted the recruits from Yakima County Fire District #5 for their Live Fire Training.

The Recruits finished their structural academy on November 1^st and completed the EVIP Class on November 3^rd.   Graduation is scheduled for December 3^rd at 7pm.

On November 6^th and 8^th we hosted IFSAC Firefighter 1 & 2 testing at Station 51.   46 Firefighters from numerous agencies attended the November 6^th testing which consisted of Firefighter 1 & 2 skills testing, while 25 attended the remaining Firefighter 1 skills testing on November 8^th.  Eight of our members participated in the Firefighter 1 skills testing, seven passed.  I assisted as an Evaluator in the process.

Recruitment & Retention Prepared by DC Johnston

Applications for the next hiring period will be due November 30^th, currently I have nine applications.  There will be a “Meet & Greet” event at each of the stations on December 10^th and Physical Ability testing on December 13^th.  Orientation is scheduled for February 2^nd.

Budget/Finance Prepared by Officer Boisselle

The WA State Auditor’s Office has begun work on our 2022, 2023 and 2024 audit.

Fire Prevention/Public Education Prepared by Officer Boisselle

On October 11^th, during Fire Prevention Week, Station 52 participated in Stein’s Ace Hardware’s smoke detector event.

October 25^th Station 52 staffed an engine for Suncomm’s Trunk R Treat, over 1,000 kids were at the event.

Logistics Updates

• Apparatus Updates:
• Brush 51: Delivered in service at Station 51
• Tender 52: Still at General Fire, waiting on emergency lights to ship.
• Engines: Pre-construction meeting went well on track for summer 26 delivery.
• Tender 53: Pfaff working with 3 companies for quotes.
• Service: All LOF and DOT inspections completed.  All pump testing completed.

·       In Progress: Security cameras, furniture.

·       Station 52 & 54 Generators: Project awarded, on order.

·       Radios: Radios from 2025 budget on order.

Strategic Plan

• Action Plan: 4^th quarter update in packet.

Interlocal

• County Residential Feasibility Studies: We have attended two feasibility meetings regarding potential developments in District.  Both are located on Zier Rd, one east of 96^th and the other west of 96^th Ave, for both the developers have inquired what it would take to annex into Yakima due to high sewer costs.  Both properties do not connect to the city boundary and would require 60% of the assessed value of all land back to the city line to agree to annexation.  The city advised it would be very difficult to leverage 60% against the vacant land however they could approach the school District to reach 60%.  These projects are in very early stages, we will continue to monitor the situation.

Community Engagement and Events

·        Red Cross Blood Drive: November 10^th.

·        Yakima County Fire Commissioners Association: Meeting November 20^th.

·        Association Events:

o   December 11^th Christmas Dinner

Respectfully,

Nathan Craig, Fire Chief