Fire, rescue blotter
Between Dec. 15 and Dec. 21, the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 203 calls for service, among them the following:
DEC. 15
Pedestrians hurt: 5:06 (Auburn). VRFA firefighters and King County Medic 6 responding to a report of a car hitting pedestrians on the 1500 block of Auburn Way North found two people lying in the roadway. Crews evaluated their injuries, determined they were non-life threatening and transported the injured folk to local area hospitals for further medical evaluation and treatment.
DEC. 17
Carport fire: 5:27 p.m., (Algona) Responding to a roof fire in the 400 block of Tacoma Boulevard South, firefighters found an exterior carport ablaze at the roof line and quickly snuffed out the fire. After climbing up to the roof, firefighters found a torch with a propane bottle and tar paper from earlier roofing work. The investigation is ongoing.
Commercial apartment fire: 6 p.m., (Auburn). Responding to an apartment fire in South Auburn, firefighters learned from the occupants that smoke had appeared in one area of the apartment after breakers in the electrical panel began tripping. Engine 32 then used a thermal imaging camera to find a heat signature in the wall behind the electrical panel. When firefighters removed the panel cover, they determined that an electrical short in the panel had caused the problem. After the occupants were evacuated, firefighters turned the apartment over to the manager to arrange for repairs to the electrical system.
DEC. 18
Vehicle over embankment: 5:53 p.m., (Algona). Firefighters responded to report of a single vehicle that had gone over an embankment with the driver trapped in the vehicle. Engine 38 personnel saw a full-size van that had slid off the roadway into a drainage area. VRFA crews were able to get the occupant of the vehicle safely out through the rear doors of the van. The driver had sustained minor injuries and firefighters treated her at the scene. Algona Police are investigating.
DEC. 20
Car crash: 5:19 p.m., (Auburn). VRFA personnel responded to the 2200 block of Auburn Way North for a two-vehicle collision. Fire Marshall 33 saw the incident and was already providing first aid to the injured parties when the VRFA personnel arrived. One person sustained injuries, so an ambulance transported him or her to Auburn Regional Medical Center. Auburn Police were investigating.
DEC. 21
House fire: 4:30 p.m., (Pacific) Personnel responded to a reported wall fire on Milwaukee Boulevard South in Pacific. The Engine 38 crew saw that the home had been evacuated and light smoke wafting from the eaves. Firefighters entered then located and extinguished a small fire in the wall above the fireplace. Investigators determined that a malfunctioning electrical outlet had caused the fire. The occupants of the home were displaced until electrical repairs could be completed. The Red Cross helped with their housing needs.
