Screaming sirens, lights and trucks, boots and trousers, hose and guts – what little boy didn’t dream of being a firefighter?
“Firefighting – one of the few professions left that still makes house calls.” – Author unknown.
Washington is blessed with sixteen firefighters staffing two stations. They work in two shifts, each 24 hours long. Everyday rain or shine, they stand ready. Quietly going about their business in relative obscurity.
Driving by a firehouse, you’ll see them washing their trucks or puttering about in the bays. What you don’t see is the training. Chief David Rhoads estimates the typical firefighter completes 8 to 12 hours of training a week. Some by attending State Fire Schools, most in house. Obviously, they learn about their equipment, the thermodynamics of combustion, and how to fight fires safely. More important is their HAZMAT training. When modern building materials burn they release a witch’s brew of hazardous compounds, not to mention chemical spills from vehicular accidents. We live in a complex society, so training is never-ending.
Firefighters also train on CPR, first aid, and how to assist EMT’s during ambulance calls. Working with GPC, the Department maintains a well prepared confined space/rope rescue team, a specialty effort directed toward the specific needs of GPC.
In 28 years Chief Rhoads has seen a lot of changes, mostly for good. Today every firefighter has a self-contained breathing apparatus – SCBA. When SCBA’s first appeared, the old timers were reluctant to use them. However today they are a readily accepted tool of the trade. When he started, firefighters had to purchase their own turnout suits (the heavy overalls, coats, and boots that protect them). Now the city buys the suits that cost $2,500 and must be replaced every 8-10 years.
The fire department operates five trucks, three first out trucks and two backups. Their newest vehicle is six years old – the ladder truck is twenty-one. As you can imagine a new fire truck is quite expensive, so the Department works diligently to keep the equipment in shape. Proper maintenance is key to extended life. Every budget cycle money is placed in a rainy day fund toward the purchase of a new unit.
Last year the fire department logged 1036 responses. Nearly two-thirds were to assist the EMS (ambulance services), or for auto accidents with injuries, rescues or extrication. Responding to EMS calls is relatively new, starting about twelve years ago. In that time the department has provided not only muscle power but sometimes are the first on the scene. The Chief remembers that once they had to shock one man eight times with a defibrillator to bring him back to life. That alone may be the best reason for continuing the EMS calls.
In 2018 we had twenty-six residential fires and six vehicle fires. There were forty-four trash, grass, and brush fires, and thirty-three calls for hazardous conditions, fuel spills, and gas leaks. Twenty-seven calls were for Carbon Monoxide alarms, and ninety-two calls due to fire alarms, mostly in the towers. Luckily Washington Fire Department had only four major call-in structure and 6 vehicle fires.
Public outreach is a continuing duty such as educating the elementary school children. The Department also meets with residents of the towers on safety and recently helped the local school with it’s “stop the bleed” program, where they instructed teachers on methods to stop bleeding.
Like most things in life, we tend to ignore the most important, such as the Fire Department.
“The hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest of men.” Henry David Thoreau
Thanks to our firefighters for helping keep Washington a great place to live.
David Dahl
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