Between Dec. 19 and Jan. 1, the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 688 total 9-1-1 calls for service, among which were the following.
Dec. 19
Collision: 7:16 p.m. (Sumner). VRFA firefighters provided mutual aid to East Pierce Fire and Rescue during the aftermath of an injury accident on SR 167 in Sumner, where they helped block traffic to ensure a protected scene while multiple injured people received emergency care.
Dec. 20
Garage fire: 8:06 a.m. (Algona). Firefighters responded to a reported garage fire that had extinguished itself inside the enclosed building. The garage sustained a significant amount of smoke damage throughout the structure. Valley Regional Fire Authority investigators were requested to determine the cause of fire. The cost of damage to the garage is undetermined.
Dec. 21
Aid call: 4:09 p.m. (Lakeland Hills). Firefighters and King County Paramedics responded to a senior citizen who was complaining of a decreased level of consciousness. They evaluated and treated the woman before a private ambulance transported her to St. Francis Medical Center.
Dec. 22
Aid call: 6:51 a.m. (Pacific). Firefighters treated a pregnant woman for complications with her pregnancy, and a private ambulance transported her to Tacoma General.
Service call: 8:17 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responding to a report of a water problem at an apartment building found water leaking from the roof, through the ceiling and into the second floor. Firefighters constructed a water chute with tarps and path to mitigate the water problem, then contacted maintenance and gave them pertinent information.
Dec. 23
Vehicle fire: 10:15 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire with hazard at 2906 B St. SE. Firefighters arrived to find an above-ground high voltage power line had disconnected from its pole and landed on several vehicles along the street. Two of the vehicles had multiple tires burning from contact with the wire. There were visible arcs of electricity traveling between the power line and the bumper of one vehicle. Firefighters deployed two hose lines to keep the flames in check and protect exposures.
Dec. 24
Assist police: 1:33 p.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to assist Auburn police after a fleeing suspect drove his car into a metal gate in a secured parking garage. The suspect’s vehicle was able to squeeze under the gate, damaging the gate so it would neither open nor close. Firefighters worked with building maintenance staff to cut the metal gate, allowing people once again to get into and out of the garage.
Dec. 25
Aid call: 4:17 p.m. (Auburn). Firefighters initially stabilized a man in his late 60s who was struggling to catch his breath, but while paramedics were evaluating him, the man went into cardiac arrest. When personnel resuscitated the man, paramedics transported him to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.
Dec. 26
Stuck elevator: 9:46 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a wheelchair-bound woman who was trapped inside an elevator. Firefighters from E-334 and a ladder company from a neighboring jurisdiction helped during the rescue. The woman was not hurt.
Semi-truck fire: 11:28 p.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a semi-truck ablaze in the lot of a tow company, forced access into the tow yard and extinguished the fire. The fire totaled one truck and damaged two others. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Dec. 27
Service call: 7:59 p.m. (Pacific). Firefighters dispatched to a possible tree on power lines near West Valley Highway and Ellingson Road arrived to find a cottonwood tree had fallen into the adjacent power lines, resulting in debris and severed power lines in the roadway. Firefighters contacted Puget Sound Energy to request repairs, then got to work blocking traffic from the electrical hazard and removing the dangerous pieces of tree limbs from the roadway.
Dec. 28
Vehicle vs. pedestrian: 6:08 p.m. (Auburn). Firefighters evaluated a man who’d been struck by a vehicle moving at low speeds, treated him on scene and transported him to MAMC.
Dec. 29
Flammable liquid spill: 11:31 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a gasoline spill at an Arco gas station. Approximately 20 gallons of gasoline had leaked out of a vehicle’s gas tank that someone had tampered with. Firefighters used absorbent material to mitigate the hazard and notified the City of Auburn and the Department of Ecology for further cleanup.
Dec. 30
Aid call: 9:58 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters treated a young man at Auburn High School who was complaining of elbow pain after falling during a wrestling match. A private ambulance transported the young man to MAMC.
Dec. 31
Accident: 2:31 p.m. (Lea Hill). Firefighters responding to a two-car accident found that all of the passengers were out of the vehicles with minor injuries. Firefighters left all parties on the scene with family members and Auburn Police.
Jan. 1
Illegal burn: 9:12 a.m. (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a report of burning cardboard and found unattended burning at a homeless camp. Firefighters extinguished the fire with hand tools.
