PREPARE PREVENT SAVE SERVE Volume 8, Issue 1
March 2015
Proposition No. 1 RFA’s EMS Levy Up for Continuation O Riverside Fire Authority Emergency Medical Service Regular Property Tax Levy n behalf of the Board of Fire be asked to consider Commissioners and the the ‘uninterrupted members of the RFA we wish to continuation’ of the The Board of the Riverside Fire express our gratitude to the RFA’s EMS levy. If Authority adopted Resolution community for supporting the the levy is approved, No. 15‐01, providing for the Lee Coumbs: Board Chair Maintenance and Operations (M funding will continue uninterrupted continuation of and O) levy approved in 2014. The levy funds are being for eight fulltime an EMS Levy. Shall the used this year to stabilize the work force from further paramedics, the Riverside Fire Authority be reductions and to pay for the maintenance of fire refurbishment and authorized to impose a regular of stations, fire trucks and equipment. With a modest replacement property tax levy of up to fifty improvement in the local economy and the cost‐saving Medic Unit vehicles, (50) cents per thousand dollars changes that have been made at the RFA, we will not be training for EMS of assessed valuation for each responders and asking for another M and O levy in 2015. The Board of of six consecutive years to Fire Commissioners wishes to acknowledge the medical equipment. maintain emergency medical cooperation of our fulltime and volunteer personnel. In 2015 an emphasis services, with collection They have performed admirably during a challenging is being placed upon beginning in 2016? prevention time by always keeping the interest of the public we injury Yes……………………………..…. education serve first. “ The Board of Fire
No……………………………….... and lower While we are referred to as a Fire Authority, Commissioners
in reality emergency medical services (EMS) passed a resolution cost alter‐
natives to to place the
accounts for 85% of all 911 renewal of the EMS answer non‐critical requests for EMS. responses. In levy at its current Between 2010, the first year of the EMS levy, 2009, residents rate on the ballot. and the end of 2014 the RFA has answered This April, voters
voted in support 16,460 requests for medical assistance. This will be asked to
number clearly illustrates the ongoing need for of an EMS levy, consider the
emergency medical services in our area. Over authorizing the ‘uninterrupted
Special Points
RFA to collect continuation’ of the the course of five years, the RFA has of Interest
$.50/$1,000 of RFA’s EMS levy. ” established a system to provide EMS from all eight fire stations. The Harrison Avenue and assessed value  On the Ballot: RFA’s
North Pearl Street stations are each staffed with a fulltime for six years ending in 2015. EMS Levy up for
Continuation
In January the Board of Fire paramedic to provide advanced life support every day, Commissioners passed a and the remaining six unstaffed community fire stations  2014: The Year in
Review
resolution to place the have volunteer EMS responders who are equipped to renewal of the EMS levy at provide basic life support medical and trauma care. Two  Students to Deliver Fire
Safety Messages
its current rate on the medic unit vehicles were refurbished and a new one was ballot. This April, voters will Continued on P. 3...
Page 2
Community Newsletter
2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
2 014 was a challenging and rewarding year for the members of the Riverside Fire Authority. Our TOP 3 EMS call types
#1 - Fall injuries
personnel enjoyed visiting with many residents of the RFA #2 - Breathing problems
while providing standby coverage at the SWW Fair, the #3 - Chest pain/heart problem
Youth Fair, Independence Day (Summerfest), high school football games and holiday parades and celebrations. TOP 3 Age groups served
Chief Mike Kytta Whenever a large number of people gather, we plan for #1 - Age 81-90
#2 - Age 61-70
emergencies and oftentimes are in attendance. In addition, a record number of #3 - Age 71-80
9‐1‐1 responses were answered in 2014 including 3,680 emergency medical service responses and 559 fire and service responses. This is an average of TOP 3 FIRE call types
almost 12 responses daily. #1 - Fire alarm
#2 - Fires in buildings
The outlook for the immediate future is favorable with the recent voter approval #3 - Electrical/other hazard
of the one year maintenance and operations levy in 2014. Levy funds are being used to stabilize the fulltime firefighter/paramedic work‐force and to address vehicle, equipment and building maintenance programs. Ten new volunteer responders were added to the response force, bringing our total volunteer force up to greater than 50 firefighters and emergency medical technicians. In addition our paramedics received training and new equipment donated by the Providence Health Foundation to recognize a specific type of heart attack where immediate ambulance transport to an out‐of‐town hospital will help to reduce the amount of heart damage and improve survival rates. Several financial and operational changes were implemented last year in response to the declining tax revenue of 2013 and 2014. Reducing the overall cost of operating the RFA and continuing to meet the emergency service needs of the community were our two highest priorities. In order to lower the overall cost of operation the fulltime uniformed force was reduced from 30 personnel who were employed in January of 2014 to 22 uniformed personnel in January of 2015. Meeting the emergency service needs has been very challenging with fewer on‐duty personnel and a record number of 911 responses. As a result, we have made several changes working toward Continued on P. 3 ...
Volume 8, Issue 1
Page 3
Students to Deliver Fire Safety Messages
K eep your eyes out and your ears open for important safety messages being delivered by some of our local youth. The Riverside Fire Authority is partnering with Oakview and Washington Elementary schools to introduce a new program designed to increase fire safety awareness in the community. Soon, when you call the fire authority business line, you will hear the voice of a Centralia elementary student providing fire and life safety tips while you are on hold for one of our staff. Our intent is to extend this service to radio spots as well and we are hoping to Assistant Chief Rick Mack recruit eager participants in the process. This program will provide opportunities for students by enhancing leadership traits and rewarding scholastic accomplishment. Both schools are placing emphasis on reading, writing and mathematics goals so the program provides tremendous incentive for the students to excel. Projects like this can be overlooked in an industry focused on emergency response, but play an equally important role in life safety. Our newly adopted motto (as seen on page 1) emphasizes our priorities as an agency “Prepare, Prevent, Save & Serve.” Preparation and prevention are enhanced with community involvement and awareness. In future newsletters you will read more about the prevention of fires, injuries and illness and why it is the most effective way to reduce the number of tragedies that affect the citizens of our community. We encourage you as individuals to be proactive in your own home when it comes to fire, injury and health hazards and prevent emergencies before they happen. … “On the Ballot,”
continued from P. 1
purchased. New heart monitoring equipment was purchased and the list of medications that can be administered has grown. Training of all paid and volunteer EMS responders is ongoing with n e w advancements occurring regularly. If you have questions about the services provided by the RFA or the continuation of the EMS levy please do not hesitate to contact one of the Fire Commissioners or the Fire Chief at the Headquarters Station on Harrison Avenue at 360‐736‐3975. … “The Year in Review,” continued from P. 2
reducing the number of responses and increasing availability of the firefighters for true emergencies. The number of EMS responses has been reduced by 10% with a change in dispatch center criteria. Public education and injury/fire prevention plans for 2015 have been ramped up, including a “Make the Right Call to 9‐1‐1” campaign to better educate people about what is, or is not, an emergency. We have also improved our response coordination with the local ambulance company, American Medical Response, to contain our cost of operation without placing the public in jeopardy. These, and additional changes, will be needed to continue to meet our community's emergency response needs at the lowest possible cost. The RFA remains committed to effective emergency response by our fulltime and volunteer personnel by training and equipping them to the best of our ability. Riverside Fire
Authority
Station 1 Downtown Centralia 512 N. Pearl 360‐330‐9854 Station 2 Headquarters Fords Prairie 1818 Harrison Ave. 360‐736‐3975 Station 3 161 Big Hanaford Rd. Station 4 2378 Seminary Hill Rd. Station 5 3715 Cooks Hill Rd. Station 6 2237 Lincoln Ck. Rd. Station 7 649 Independence Rd. Station 8 1220 Garrard Ck. Rd. Fire Chief Mike Kytta Assistant Fire Chief & Fire Marshal Rick Mack PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Olympia, WA
Permit # 604
Headquarters Station 1818 Harrison Avenue Centralia, WA 98531 Phone: 360‐736‐3975 Fax: 360‐330‐5573 ECRWSS
Residential Customer
Downtown Station 512 N. Pearl Centralia, WA 98531 Visit us on the Web, www.riversidefire.net and follow us on Facebook! Committed to creating safer communities through prevention, preparedness, and effective emergency response.