Fire, rescue blotter

Between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30, Valley Regional Fire Authority personnel responded to 150 calls for service, among them the following:

NOV. 30

Motor vehicle collision: 1:05 a.m., (Auburn). VRFA personnel responded to the 3000 block of M Street Southeast to a car accident involving injuries. At the scene they found a minivan that had sustained moderate damage in a head-on collision. Fortunately, none of the vehicle’s four occupants were injured. The second car had fled the scene prior to VRFA’s arrival. Auburn police are investigating.

Another car in the water: 7:37 a.m., (Auburn). VRFA firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident that was later identified as an unoccupied car in Mill Creek by Auburn police on location. The vehicle was upright with minor damage but was not leaking. Police retained control of the scene, releasing VRFA units.

NOV. 28

Car in the water: 2 p.m., (Auburn). An Auburn Police officer was the first to arrive on scene after a woman had driven her car into a drainage pond so he waded in to help the woman out. VRFA personnel then placed a rescue diver into the water to secure a cable to the vehicle so they could yank it from the pond. Medics treated the woman at the scene and an ambulance took her to Auburn Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

NOV. 27

Car in the river: 7:15 a.m., (Pacific) On Thanksgiving Day, VRFA Firefighters and Pacific police responded to a car in the White River off of Third Place. Police knew the car had been stolen, but dark windows prevented bystanders and police from telling if anyone was inside. Specially trained firefighters swam to the car and determined that it was empty. They then hooked up a heavy duty tow strap and attached a tow cable from a large tow truck to pull it from the water to prevent ecological damage from leaking gasoline and other fluids. Firefighters turned the scene over the Pacific Police for further investigation.

Fire alarm: 6:11 p.m., (Pacific). Responding to an automatic fire alarm sounding at a 4-story motel, VRFA firefighters discovered that a party group had been using a fog machine in a conference room and had inadvertently tripped the smoke detector. The partiers had shut down the machine when the alarm tripped so the system was reset without incident.

NOV. 26

Home fire: 7:13 a.m., (Auburn). VRFA firefighters responded to a home fire in the 800 block of R Street Northeast and found heavy fire in the front and rear of two side-by-side apartments. Firefighters attacked the conflagration from the front and rear exterior, and when they had knocked the flames down began to fight the fire from inside, quickly snuffing it. No one was hurt. The South King Fire Investigation Team completed the fire investigation.

Car vs. pedestrian: 7:51 a.m., (Auburn/Lea Hill). Responding to a car vs. pedestrian accident in the 12600 block of Southeast 312th Street, VRFA and Medic 6 personnel found an 8-year-old girl who had been struck by a vehicle doing about 30 mph. With the help of Medic 6, VRFA personnel stabilized and backboarded the girl, who had sustained an ankle fracture and possible cervical spine and internal injuries. Medic 6 transported the girl to Harborview Medical Center.

NOV. 24

Firefighters helping cops: 1:04 p.m., (Algona). Algona police asked VRFA Firefighters to help investigate an untimely death. Investigators had to climb onto the roof of a residence to view the scene, so Engine 38 raised a ground ladder to make that possible.