Yakima Fire Department overdoing it?
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima is considering cutting back on the number of firefighters who initially respond to unconfirmed first-alarm fires to make the department more efficient.
Arthur Osborn knows firsthand how close a fire can get after his neighbor's kitchen went up in flames a couple of days ago.
"I looked up the street and saw a couple fire engines," said Osborn.
Neighbors KIMA spoke with say the more crews the better, but is there a such thing as overdoing it?
"We questioned whether we were properly deploying our resources," said Yakima City Manager Tony O'Rourke.
A recent reassessment of Yakima Fire Department's initial response found it could do better.
Right now, the department sends all of its on-duty firefighters and equipment whenever a call comes in; that's four staffed engines, a truck and batallion chief sent for what could turn out to be a false alarm.
Action News pulled the numbers and learned last year Yakima crews responded to roughly 150 fire calls.
Over half of those were false alarms or small fires.
"What's the risk of going all in on an unconfirmed structure fire?" KIMA asked.
"Well, you expose the rest of the city. You're assuming there's not going to be a simultaneous fire somewhere else in the city," said O'Rourke.
As it is now, Yakima would need outside help to respond. However, the department plans to try something new.
When a fire call comes in, the response would almost be cut in half; two engines would respond instead of four and a ladder truck would go too.
YFD would rely on the first crews to respond or other confirmation of a larger emergency to trigger a full response.
"That would be a good thing," said Osborn.
City Council will be briefed on the plan this week. The change would be done on a trial basis to see how well it works before making it permanent.
Yakima sends more firefighters on calls to a first-alarm compared to cities of similar size.
The city says the change could save some money in gas.
However, Yakima says it would not reduce the number of fire station brownouts.
Arthur Osborn knows firsthand how close a fire can get after his neighbor's kitchen went up in flames a couple of days ago.
"I looked up the street and saw a couple fire engines," said Osborn.
Neighbors KIMA spoke with say the more crews the better, but is there a such thing as overdoing it?
"We questioned whether we were properly deploying our resources," said Yakima City Manager Tony O'Rourke.
A recent reassessment of Yakima Fire Department's initial response found it could do better.
Right now, the department sends all of its on-duty firefighters and equipment whenever a call comes in; that's four staffed engines, a truck and batallion chief sent for what could turn out to be a false alarm.
Action News pulled the numbers and learned last year Yakima crews responded to roughly 150 fire calls.
Over half of those were false alarms or small fires.
"What's the risk of going all in on an unconfirmed structure fire?" KIMA asked.
"Well, you expose the rest of the city. You're assuming there's not going to be a simultaneous fire somewhere else in the city," said O'Rourke.
As it is now, Yakima would need outside help to respond. However, the department plans to try something new.
When a fire call comes in, the response would almost be cut in half; two engines would respond instead of four and a ladder truck would go too.
YFD would rely on the first crews to respond or other confirmation of a larger emergency to trigger a full response.
"That would be a good thing," said Osborn.
City Council will be briefed on the plan this week. The change would be done on a trial basis to see how well it works before making it permanent.
Yakima sends more firefighters on calls to a first-alarm compared to cities of similar size.
The city says the change could save some money in gas.
However, Yakima says it would not reduce the number of fire station brownouts.
If they respond with half the crews and find they need the rest of the companies, they will be dealing with an unacceptable time delay. Â Respond with the full complement of equipment and crews. When the first-in company arrives, they can determine what is needed and turn the rest around. It is better to have them and not need them, then to need them and not have them.
Just the other day the news was about two (2) men losing their lives because of a house fire. If you'll remember, in the last couple of weeks, the Yakima Fire Department had 2 fires where they saved several people in 2 separate fires, in residential structures. Two of those men have since died. The firefighters gave these men and their families the best chance of survival that was humanly possible. The only reason the fatal fire didn't up with more people dead was because of the quick response and the number of firefighters that responded.
Citizens of Yakima you better wake up, Mr. OâRourke is playing games with your lives. He seems to care more for his dog than the value of your lives.