Chief's Monthly Report
West Valley Fire
Department
Yakima County Fire
District 12
For the Meeting July
14, 2026
Agenda
Topic: Department Monthly
Progress Report
Prepared
By: Chief Nathan Craig
Date Prepared: July 10, 2026
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 90, with 78 on-call members (62 operations, 11
support, 2 light duty, and 3 on leave).
- Promotion:Chris Payne was promoted to Lieutenant and
assigned to Station 51. Justin
Nickolaus was promoted to Training Captain.
Department
Training and Safety Prepared by DC Johnston
June Drills included: Equipment Check
/ Station Drill, Strategic Planning, EVIP Road Course, Safety Stand Down, and
EVIP Rodeo / Fit Test.
Developed the July Drill Schedule:
Equipment Check / Station Drill / L&I Heat Awareness, OTEP Module 3
(Pediatrics & Neonates), Team Building / SCBA Quarterly, Search / RIT. Support – Carcinogen Exposure / SCBA
Procedures.
This year’s Firefighter Safety Stand
Down theme is “Firefighter Fitness – Fit to Serve, Fit for Life”, I brought in
a Dietician to talk to our Members about nutrition and created a three-month
fitness challenge for all interested Members to participate in. 22 Members have signed up, there are cash
prizes for the top three women and men, which is sponsored by the Firefighters
Association.
Recruitment /
Retention Prepared by DC Jim
Johnston
On June 20th the Recruit Testing and Interview process was
completed, 14 applicants participated, 12 were offered positions and are in the
process of scheduling their medical physicals.
The Fall Structure Academy will be led by our new Training Captain Justin
Nickolaus. The Fall academy will be big
in numbers, 22 from West Valley, 4 from Highland, 2 from Naches, and 1 from
Gleed.
Operations
In June there were
a total of 98 alarms in the district, 26 were ambulance calls.
Incidents: YTD Incidents by Zone YTD Zone
Station 51
6 34 21 121 (24%)
Station 52
14 84 40 214
(42%)
Station 53
19 60 33 127
(25%)
Station 54
3 23 4 44 (9%)
Station 50
29 157 506
Yakima
1 2
Ambulance Only
21 122
Ambulance Lift
5 24
Total 506
Incident Type: Month Type YTD
Fire 19 4 bldg(2-M/AA), 14 Veg (11M/AA),
1 M/AA Spec 66
EMS 57 2 MVC, 5 AMA 347
Service Call 19 15
Lift, 2 AFA, 2 Service 69
No Emergency 3 3
outdoor burning 24
Action Taken: Month Type YTD
Canceled enroute 7 3
EMS, 4 M/AA. 42
Extinguishment 16 2 bldg(1-M/AA), 12 veg (11M/AA), 1
burn
52
Provide BLS 45 303
Assist Invalid 17 46
Investigate 10 2 burn, 1 AMA, 2 AFA, 1 pwr, 3 mvc,
1AMA 56
Other 3 gas, water leak, equipment 7
Automatic Aid Received (both agencies respond) Automatic Aid Given
From Highland 0 To Highland 8
From Yakima 2 To Yakima 1
From Gleed 1 To Union Gap 2
From Union Gap 0 To BIA 0
YTD 9 YTD 30
Mutual Aid Received 1 Mutual Aid
Given 3 (2 Dist 2, 1 Dist 4)
YTD 1 YTD 6
One house fire
resulted in $80,500 loss from an attic fire.
5 acres of wildland burned.
June
51- 5/5- 100% 52- 5/12 42% 53- 14/15 93% 54- 2/3 66%
June Total 26 out of
35- 74%
On-Going Total- 131 of
171- 77%
On-Duty Turnout
Time: 80 seconds non fire, 100 seconds fire response.
June 19
out of 23- 83% On-Going
Total- 102 of 140- 73%
NFPA 1720Responses for rural areas (6 FFs on scene within 14
minutes, 80% of the time). Incidents: 2 mo., 7 yr, target met mo. 1 (50%), yr 5
(71%), target not met: mo. 1 (50%) yr. 2 (29%).
Fire Prevention/Public Education Prepared by Officer Boisselle
In June we did an
EDITH House make up for Cottonwood Elementary with 60 kiddos.
We participated in
three end-of-the-school-year field days at Mt. View, Ahtanum and Cottonwood
Elementary schools with spray downs.
The new Champion
Center Church on 96th held a “Hero Honors” event on June 28th
with the fire department, law enforcement and ambulance in attendance.
Unfortunately, we
had to cancel the Jr Safety Academy for the third year in a row due to lack of
participation.
Budget/FinancePrepared by Officer Boisselle
We had planned on
doing a mid-year budget review at this meeting, but the County has yet to
release June final numbers. We will do
the review in August.
Logistics Updates
- Apparatus Updates:
- Tender 52: General Fire wants to schedule a final inspection
for the week of July 20th.
- Engines: August 16-19 final inspection scheduled.
- Tender 53: Going out of service for tank replacement in the
week of July 13th.
· In Progress: Landscaping,
asphalt crack sealing, holding job scope for Station 52 parking lot hoping oil
process come down, admin carpet, and St 53 HVAC replacement (adjustment made to
scope).
· Station 52 & 54 Generators: Pads and conduits are in place for both units, 52’s
generator is in town, 54’s generator shipping is delayed until mid-August. Contractor will install 52 this month.
Grants
·
AFG: Submitted equipment grant for SCBA and a prevention grant
for a community risk reduction study/plan.
·
52 Parking
lot: Received official award from the
state.
·
NVFC: Awarded a hydration powder grant for rehab supplies.
Community Engagement and Events
·
Strategic Planning: Community listening sessions were
held June 3, 10, 24 and July 1 with sparse attendance. Community survey closed July 5th with
26 responses.
·
Chip it, Don’t
Burn it:
June 27th was our third event filling 40 yards of debris and 25
yards of chipped material. Final event
planned for July 18th.
·
Association: June 13th
annual flea market was held. Awarded a
Dollars for Scholars scholarship.
·
Blood Drive: July 13th
and August 26th.
Respectfully,
Nathan
Craig
Fire
Chief