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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2015-04-13 Item 4 - Handout Distributed at Meeting - Kent Regional Fire Authority - 2014 Annual ReportKent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority 1 2014 Annual Report RTNERSHIPS 11 oUTD0012 om the Chief Dear Community Member, Oh behalf of the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority (RFA), I want to thank you, our residents, for your continued support in 2014. As an organization we are committed to professionally and compassionately helping those we serve and protect. In 2014, under the direction of Division Chief Mitch Snyder and Captain Jirn Webb, the Kent Fire Department continued to enhance our Fire Department Community,Assistance, Referral, and Education Services program (FD CARES). Our fully integrated emergency medical services (EMS) system, blended into the broader health system, continues to improve the outcome of individuals in need of non - emergency service. In 2014, the Department implemented the FD CARES staffing pilot project with a 24 hour, 7 days a week FD CARES unit in service.This pilot project has proven to be a very valuable program for our residents and the department. The Department has been very successful in building partnerships with health insurers. In 2015, the Kent Fire Department RFA, health insurers, and providers will take the next step forward in the pilot project by creating a data share process and a shared savings program that will provide benefits to all parties. In addition, the FD CARES program has received a one year grant to hire a social worker to assist with the continued development of the FD CARES program. In 2014, the contractual consolidation agreement between the Kent Fire Department RFA and the City of SeaTac Fire Department went into effect. Firefighters and civilian personnel that were employed by the City of SeaTac became Kent Fire Department RFA personnel on January 1, 2014. Through a contract for services agreement, the Kent Fire Department RFA now provides fire /EMS services to the City of SeaTac. Both the continued success of the FD CARES program and the consolidation of the Kent Fire Department RFA and City of SeaTac Fire Department demonstrate that coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success. Your continued support of the Kent Fire Department RFA has allowed our organization to evaluate, consider, and combine resources to sustain service delivery in the most cost effective way. We will continue to look for economies of scale and the reduction of costs as we professionally and compassionately help those we serve and protect. Thank you, i,M 1=W/reef/die* Jim Schneider Fire Chief Kent Fire Department RFA Fire Chief Jim Schneider Deputy Chiefs John Willits Brian Wiwel Division Chiefs Pat Pawlak Dominic Marzano Mitch Snyder Fire Marshal Jon Napier Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority Governance Board Front L to R: Covington Mayor Margaret Harto, Kent Councilmernbei Bill Boyce, District Commissioner Mike Denbo, Kent Councilmember LesThomas Back L to R: Kent Councilmember Dennis Higgins, District Commissioner Allan Barrie, District Commissioner Harry George e The Kent Fire Department RFA saw a number of changes during 2014, with the most substantial being a contract for services with the City of SeaTac. This 20 -year contract provides for a consolidation of fire and life safety services and emergency response.The contract increased the Department's response area by 10- square miles, three fire stations, and 46 personnel.This increase also allows for an economic concept referred to as economies of scale, which are the cost savings and advantages that larger organizations have compared to smaller ones. In 2014, the Department responded to a record 22,006 emergency responses. A summary of calls for the year can be found on page 5 of this report. After 34 years with the Department, Deputy Chief Ken Weatherill retired in June. Although his leadership and experience will be missed, we hope that he enjoys his well- deserved retirement. Division Chief John Willits was appointed to fill this position. This past year, the Department expanded its Hazardous Materials Response to two teams. This second Haz Mat Team is located at Fire Station 75 (see map), and provides for quicker responses to the eastern -most portions of the Department's coverage area. The Department received its new tiller-ladder truck late in the year, which will be housed at Fire Station 46 (see map). The tiller was a joint purchase between the City of SeaTac and Sound Transit. It provides for a tighter turning radius to more easily maneuver narrow or congested streets. Sound Transit's contribution is for its anticipated usage related to the Link Light Rail extension being built in SeaTac from the airport to South 200th Street. The Fire Maintenance Shop for all of the Department apparatus, as well as three other contract fire departments, is located at Fire Station 76 (see map). In 2014, the Department was awarded a $606,181 solar panel grant for Station 76 from Washington State.The solar panels will reduce the building's electrical costs by half, and entitle the Department to a $30,000 Washington State Solar Production credit over six years. Additionally, the Fire Maintenance Shop hired a consultant to look at how the division can operate more efficiently and safely.The consultant recommendations will be implemented in 2015. The Department was awarded another grant, for $102,313 from the state entitled Best Practices for Reducing Firefighter Risk of Exposure to Carcinogens. This grant is aimed at reducing the incidents of job - related cancers and increasing the life- expectancy of firefighters, and funding will be used to create policies and procedures to reduce risk.These policies will serve as a blueprint for other fire departments to utilize in order to reduce risk to their personnel as well. The Renton Fire Department joined the South King CountyTraining Consortium in 2014, bringing the total number of personnel in the Consortium to over 550. As a result of its continued growth, the Consortium relocated from Fire Station 74 (see map) to a facility in the 20800 block of the East Valley Highway.This new space provides more room and large classrooms for the continuing education of firefighters from throughout South King County. The Office of Emergency Management conducted two significant exercises during the year. The first, called the Great Shake Out, involved all City of Kent staff as well as the Fire Department.The exercise was focused on employees evaluating the City for damage following an "earthquake" and dealing with the effects of a resulting landslide. The second was a cooperative exercise with the Washington National Guard Homeland Response Force Communications Unit and addressed communication issues discovered by emergency responders during the SR 530 mudslide in Snohomish County. The Zone 3 Fire Explorers of South King County excelled once again at the National Fire /Emergency Services Exploring Conference in Indiana bringing home four 1st place trophies. For more information on the Explorers, visit www.zone3explorers.com. Through Operation Warm (www.operationwarm.com), the Kent Firefighters Foundation and Local 1747 gave away new coats to hundreds of elementary school children, many of whom had never had a new coat before. What to E The Kent Fire Department RFA will continue to become more efficient and green this year as we begin purchasing all- electric vehicles for scheduled replacement of non -fire apparatus.These vehicles will reduce fuel costs as well as emissions. We will also increase efficiency asthe Fire Maintenance Shop opens several remote sites where certain emergency vehicle work can be done without having the vehicle travel to the main shop, reducing wear and tear, vehicle miles, and fuel consumption.The first remote site is expected to open in the Auburn area. The South King CountyTraining Consortium will continue to grow this year as the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VFRA) joins. VRFA serves the communities of Auburn, Pacific, and Algona, and has 118 career firefighters. The Department's Information Technology (IT) staff will be relocating this year into the space previously occupied by the Training Division at Fire Station 74. As the Department continues to grow, the needs for support services such as IT do as well, and this new space supports that growth. Installation will begin this year on the solar panel project at Fire Station 76 and the Maintenance Shop. Fire Chief Jim Schneider and a number of staff members are scheduled to attend the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Conference, where the on -site peer assessment team will submit its final report on recommendation for the Department's re- accreditation before the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Department has been accredited since 2004. Accreditation is important an ongoing internal and external review of operations, helps to identify strengths and weakness, and promotes excellence within the organization. The Kent Fire Department RFA is one of less than 200 CPSE accredited agencies in the world. Ladder 46 will go into service this year at Fire Station 46.The new tiller -style ladder is steered both in the front and back.This maneuverability will allow it access to spaces that other 100 -foot aerial ladders could not achieve. Two Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes will be offered in 2015. CERT offers community members free hands -on training to help prepare them for an area -wide disaster where traditional emergency responders may not be available. For additional information or to register, contact the Office of Emergency Management at 253 -856 -4343, via e -mail at kentoem@kentwa.gov, or online at www.kentfirerfa.org. because it requires OM%' µ HIGHLJ FIRE DEPTS. Retirements Ken Weatherill Mike Moore Deputy Chief Engineer Hired 02/01 /1980 Hired 02/14/1982 Retired 06/30/2014 Retired 02/15/2014 John Robinson Dave Stargel Captain Engineer Hired 01/02/1981 Hired 02/01/1982 Retired 02/28/2014 Retired 01/27/2014 Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority 24611 116 Ave. SE Kent, WA 98030 253 - 856 -4300 Website: kentfirerfa.org Twitter: @kentfirerfa Facebook: Kent Fire Department RFA Call Volume 2014 22,006 Total Calls Hazardous Materials/ Fire — 833 (4%) Explosions — 374 Service — 889 (2 %) (4 %) Kent • Sration 77 Kent Fire Department �KRFA /SeaTac Base Map ■ KRFA Fire Stations ■ SeaTac Fire Stations • Other Fire Stations =Kent Fire department .]City of Kent MCity of Covington City of SeaTac Rent Fire Department RFA Fire Stations 504 West Crow Street, Kent 25620 140th Ave SE, Kent Surface, sub - surface, and swift water rescue Map book program; Site plan program Tck 26512 Military Road So, Kent Fire hose maintenance D4 24611 116th Avenue SE, Kent Ladder truck; High and low angle rope rescue team; Confined space rescue team;Trench rescue team; Information Technology; Emergency Management, Fire Administration; East Battalion Chief 15635 SE 272nd Street, Kent Self contained breathing apparatus repair and maintenance; Pressurized air system; Firefighting foam program; Hazardous Materials ResponseTeam 20676 72nd Ave So, Kent Hazardous Materials ResponseTeam; Fire apparatus repair and maintenance; New apparatus setup and outfitting; Central Battalion Chief 20717 132nd Ave SE, Kent Equipment decontamination 17820 SE 256th Street, Covington Small engines & equipment maintenance, repair and purchasing 2929 South 200th Street, SeaTac Surface Water Rescue; Map Book/Site Plan Program; Zone 3 Fire Explorers 37 3521 South 170th Street, SeaTac Confined Space Rescue and Rope Rescue; West Battalion Chief 3215 South 152nd Street, SeaTac 400 West Gowe Street, Kent Code Enforcement; Fire Inspections; Public Education; Investigations; Fire Plan Review nigUnlietg Center 20800 West Valley Highway, Kent South King County FireTraining Consortium