New Aid Units for Woodinville Fire & Rescue Bring Needed Patient Improvements. The fire district welcomes three new aid units to complete seven-vehicle fleet replacement.

KENMORE, Wash., Feb. 10, 2020 – Three new aid units have been added to the Woodinville Fire and Rescue fleet, completing a three-year replacement of all first-out vehicles in the District. The units were purchased to replace the aging 2006 vehicles which were no longer within National Fire Protection Agency Standards. The three new aid units will cost the District a little over one million dollars.

“Just like any household, Woodinville Fire and Rescue has been anticipating and budgeting for this fleet replacement,” said Fire Chief Gregory Ahearn. “The ability to pay for these units with cash funding from our reserves gave us a significant advantage in price negotiation.”

The new emergency response vehicles come with improvements for patient transport and firefighter safety. The enhancements include 4-wheel drive to be more responsive in inclement weather and hard to access areas of the district. The addition of a self-loading cot with the ability to lift 750 pounds will reduce firefighter injury and assist in patient transport.

The new aid units will have a compartment for a third firefighter’s gear. Removing bunker gear from the patient transport area will help reduce cross-contamination between a firefighter’s gear and patients. Additional upgrades include amenities such as a blanket warmer for patients, air conditioning in the transport area and improved LED lighting around the vehicle.

“The new 360-degree LED floodlighting allows us to thoroughly see collision scenes and perform better patient care at night,” said Battalion Chief Seth Merritt. “It’s an invaluable asset to have on an aid unit.”

The aid units and their specifications were discussed and selected over a year-long process with a five-member committee. The focus of the selection process was to find the best transport units for patient care while meeting budgetary expectations. The committee included firefighters, members of the leadership committee, and a fleet manager.

Woodinville Fire and Rescue would like to invite the public to an open house on Jan. 7, 2019 to view and tour the new aid units. The District would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the members of our community for their continued support.

When: January 7, 2019

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Join us at Station 31 in downtown Woodinville.

17718 Woodinville-Snohomish Rd NE

Woodinville, WA 98072

What: See the new aid units and chat with your local firefighters about the improvements.