The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 160 calls for service between March 30 and April 5, among them the following:
March 30
Commercial fire: 3:30 p.m., (Auburn). Valley Com dispatched firefighters to a fire at the Science Building at Green River Community College. Firefighters found that somebody had overcooked food in a microwave, sparking a small fire. Staff smothered the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher, limiting damage to the aforesaid appliance. Firefighters discovered that the fire alarm system hadn’t activated despite considerable smoke because somebody had tampered with the detector. GRCC security and the VRFA Fire Marshal’s Office vowed to fix the problem.
March 31
Service call: 2:49 p.m., (Algona). Firefighters responding to a report of a sprinkler water flow alarm found water flowing from a fire sprinkler system but no fire. At this point the business owner mentioned ongoing trouble with the fire sprinkler system. The owner agreed to make the repairs as soon as possible and to activate a fire watch until the system begins to work as it should.
April 1
Aid call: 1:18 p.m., (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a report of an elderly woman who had fallen down and hurt herself. After evaluating the woman, personnel determined that she was weak, was having difficulty standing and had also fallen the day before. American Medical Response transported the woman to Auburn Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
April 2
CPR: 9:05 a.m., (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a 49-year-old man suffering an asthma attack. Upon arrival, they found a man with impaired consciousness but able to talk. Unfortunately, he soon went into cardiac arrest and, despite everyone’s best efforts, died.
April 3
Aid call: 11:40 a.m., (Auburn). Valley Com dispatched Aid 31 to a report of an uncooperative, combative person. Personnel used glucometry to determine that the person was suffering from low blood sugar. King County Medics provided intravenous therapy to elevate the blood sugar. The patient’s condition improved and a family member stayed with the person while he or she ate and rebalanced the blood sugar.
April 4
Automatic fire alarm: 2:49 p.m., (Lea Hill). Valley Com dispatched Engine 34 to an automatic fire alarm at an apartment complex. There personnel found an apartment already empty and residents talking about the smell of smoke inside. Firefighters entered the apartment and confirmed that, yes indeed, a light odor of smoke hung in the air. An interior search of the apartment revealed a color crayon in the bottom of a toaster that had been used just before the fire alarm went off. They unplugged the toaster and got it out of the apartment. Nobody was hurt and nothing was damaged.
April 5
Aid call: 3:13 p.m., (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a 14-year-old boy who injured himself after falling off his skateboard in the 2800 block of M Street Southeast. The boy had not been wearing a helmet, so when he fell, he smacked his head on the concrete. Personnel examined the boy and treated his injury. A private automobile drove him to Auburn Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
