Woodinville Fire & Rescue joins Eastside Fire & Rescue as Contract for Service Begins.
Woodinville Fire & Rescue joins Eastside Fire & Rescue as Contract for Service Begins.
The ten-year contract for service is expected to decrease costs to taxpayers and expand emergency services.
WOODINVILLE, Wash., Oct. 1, 2021 – The partnership between Eastside Fire and Rescue (EF&R) and Woodinville Fire and Rescue (WF&R) solidified today as EF&R officially began providing emergency services to the Woodinville Community. The ten-year contract for service was approved in July by both agencies' governing bodies and labor organizations.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the men and women of our fire departments as well as our residents," said EF&R Fire Chief Jeff Clark. "Together, we can reduce costs to taxpayers while expanding the resources and equipment available to our employees."
WF&R will continue to be an operational Fire District with locally elected fire commissioners and will retain all capital assets. The WF&R Board of Commissioners will continue to set Woodinville’s service level and oversee the Districts’ budget and policy decisions. The WF&R Board of Commissioners will not be a participating member of the EF&R governing body.
“We want people to know all current WF&R firefighters were offered positions at EF&R," said WF&R fire Commissioner Mike Millman. "All the stations within the District will remain open and fully staffed, so there will be no change in 911 service or response."
The efficiencies created by the ten-year agreement are expected to bring operational cost savings to WF&R. The cost savings is attributed to reduced overhead and elimination of redundancies between the two organizations.
Employee Spotlight: Lieutenant Jim Rodgers
Employee Spotlight
Person: Lieutenant Jim Rogers
Shift: Station 35 - C-Shift
Education: East Anchorage High – Anchorage, Alaska- some classes at the University of Alaska
How did you get into the fire service?
I was 25 and working at Safeway in Alaska and decided I wanted a change. I asked the manager how hard it would be to relocate to the Seattle area. I was in luck because they were opening a brand-new store in Woodinville. Two weeks later, I was in Woodinville working.
Safeway was a good start, but I didn't have higher education, and I kept getting passed over on promotions. One day in 1989, I saw a sign on the street that said volunteers needed for the fire department. I had seen the guys who worked at Station 35, and they always seemed so happy.
I had long flowing hair, but I wore a suit to my interview. The Deputy Chief was impressed but said I had to choose between my hair and the volunteer job. I still miss the hair, but once I started volunteering, I knew I found a career I would love more. That was the best move I ever made. I have loved all 28 years since.
What do you value most about the Fire Service and this career?
I love the camaraderie. I have developed friendships here I genuinely value. You can trust the people around you to help save a life or to be there to put a roof up at your house. The people who work here are the people you would have a beer with and share your life stories. Even if you have a hard call. We are all in it together, we can discuss it together, and if someone needs more help, there are more avenues to help each other. That is so important.
What is a challenge you face in the fire service?
The dynamic relationship between labor unions and management of the Fire District. As with all places with labor unions, there is always a give and take. It can be dividing when we should all be working together. At the end of the day, labor unions and management constantly work toward what they think is best for the residents they serve.
Is there a call, or type of call, that has made an impact on your life?
It's always nice when you walk out of a room after reviving someone with CPR, and everyone worked together with precision. It takes a large team that works quickly and efficiently to ensure CPR goes well.
About a week after a resuscitation, we receive a Cardiac Case Review. It goes over all the data related to the call, things like compression ratios. It's a great tool to review with our crew and keep us focused on improvements. To be honest, it also notes a person's survival, which is the first thing I look at. Once you leave them in the hospital's care, you can't help but want the best for that person. Knowing someone made it leaves you with a good feeling.
What do you enjoy about being a part of the Woodinville Community?
Before Covid-19, I loved the Basset Bash – which turned into Celebrate Woodinville. I love how people, the community, restaurants support the Benevolent Fund and Fire District. Those events leave you with a feeling of community. The pancake breakfast we host at Station 31 always raises money for our Benevolent Fund. It's so awesome to see the Benevolent Fund, in turn, support local causes and help the community in their time of need.
What advice or what would you want someone to know who is applying to WFR?
I love our hiring process because it's getting us some very awesome people. I love the new generation of firefighters; there are a lot of new hires that stand out and make a difference. Mainly, it's a freaking great place to work. It's been an incredible experience, and it's the greatest job in the world.
Employee Spotlight: FF Jeff Smith
Employee Spotlight: FF Jeff Smith
Shift: A-Shift
Education: Interlake High School - Bellevue WA
Specialties: Acting Lieutenant, Technical Rescue, Truck Operations, Rope Rescue, Confined Space, and Water Rescue
Why did you get into the fire service?
I did ski patrol for years at Crystal Mountain; a few of the guys there were firefighters. I knew nothing about the fire service, but they encouraged me to consider it. My wife and I talked about it and decided I should give it a try. M mid-life crisis was in my 40’s. Instead of a car or a new girlfriend, I decided on a career change. I look back, and I had no idea what I was getting into. I do believe God led me to consider changing careers.
What would you want people to know about joining the fire service later in life than most?
I am a firm advocate for those who join the fire service later in life. They bring broader experiences and respect for the career. I don’t believe this job is just about the income; it’s more than that. The fire service is about always striving to mitigate any scenario and helping people. As I look close to retiring, short of my immediate family, this is my family. There is a camaraderie in the fire service you can’t experience with other careers. It is the people that make a difference.
What do you value most about the Fire Service and this career?
I always tell the younger people I work with to keep the fire service what it is. I want to hold them accountable. Keep the focus on the customer we serve. Taking care of people is of the utmost importance of what we do. I always want our days to be about the people who are receiving our care. They trust us in their time of need. We have to maintain the integrity and trust given to us by the public.
What is a challenge you face in the fire service?
The dynamics of different people. I honestly don’t believe there is a downside to this job. If there is a downside, it’s because you can’t get along with people. I genuinely love this job.
Is there a call, or type of call, that has made an impact on your life?
I would say planned teen suicides. It is incredibly impactful as a parent. I find myself talking to kids more about life’s rough roads. Seeing families in those kinds of situations made me get more involved in youth groups. You want teenagers to know they will get through the tough times, and they will be thankful they did. It made me realize the importance of sharing the joy of life with kids. It’s important to remind our children, no matter how bad they are doing, you love them, no matter what they choose to do in life.
What do you enjoy about being a part of the Woodinville Community?
I think we have a great community. I grew up in Lake Sammamish and have always liked this area. I can remember when Norm’s Resort was out here. The Woodinville area was a part of my childhood; it’s like home to me. People living here are hard-working people. I especially like our elderly community; those are some of the most significant calls we go on. They are always so thankful, and at the same time, apologetic we had to come out. They don’t know; we enjoy spending our time helping other people.
What advice or what would you want someone to know who is applying to WFR?
Stick with your pursuit of this career, it’s worth it. Do what you can to get the job. Woodinville has something rare, good people, good leadership, and we serve an appreciative community that is supportive of our District. It’s not something you see everywhere.
Water Safety in Summer Months
The warmest months of the year are heading our way and the official start of summer is here. As we cool off and escape the heat, remember the basics of water recreation safety. We live in an area surrounded by water, giving many opportunities for exciting water activities, but also increasing the possibility of injury or drowning. According to the Washington State Department of Health, in Washington, there were 98 unintentional drowning deaths of residents in 2017. In King County, at least 16 people died in preventable drownings in 2018.
A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to apply sunscreen, reply to a text, or run back into the house for something you forgot. Drowning and injuries related to water happen every day in pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, bathtubs, and even buckets. Fortunately, there are a few things we can do to help mitigate the risks involving water and summer fun.
Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water. A life jacket is one of the most effective pieces of safety gear in or out of a boat. However, it only works if you wear it. Low-cost lifejackets are provided throughout the spring and summer months though King County at a 25% discount (kingcounty.gov). In addition, the Washington State Parks Department has a Life Jacket Loaner Program. The program provides life jackets to designated stations for the public to check out a life jacket for a day or the weekend. Most life jackets are checked out and returned by the end of each day (parks.state.wa.us).
Backyard swimming pools and spas are a great place for the family to relax and have fun. However, it’s important to ensure everyone stays safe in and around the water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools. The CDC reports most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home and had been out of sight for less than five minutes. Proper fences, barriers, alarms, and covers can be lifesaving devices. A fence of at least four feet in height should surround the pool or spa on all sides and should not be climbable for children.
During water recreation, always use the buddy system. Make sure you are not alone, or under the influence while participating in water related activities. Lastly, bystanders are often the first to aid a drowning victim, so learning CPR can help save a life. Woodinville Fire & Rescue offers an American Heart Association CPR certification class once a month. If you haven’t been certified, it’s a great opportunity to learn a life-saving skill. Classes are expected to resume sometime in July or once King County enters Phase III of the Safe Start reopening plan.
Warm Weather and Window Safety
The recent warm weather is a welcome addition to the start of spring in the Pacific Northwest. Warmer weather also means hot houses and open windows. Annually, over 5,000 children are injured falling out of open windows. The majority of window falls are children who are 2 – 5 years old. According to the University of Washington Medicine, 40 to 50 children are treated at the Pediatric Trauma Center at Harborview with injuries related to window falls during the summer months every year.
Remember, a window screen is strong enough to keep bugs out but not strong enough to keep children in. When screened windows are open, kids may lean or push against the screen, causing it to pop out of the window frame and the child to tumble out after it. Window screens are not child safety devices.
Now is a great time to check the safety of your windows at home. Properly installed window guards stop a window from opening more than 4 inches and prevent unintentional window falls. Window stops allow for a breeze and still ensure windows can’t open wide enough for kids to fall out. If you are above the first floor, don’t forget to include an emergency release device in case of fire
If you have windows that can open from both top and bottom, make a habit of opening just the top to prevent accidental falls. Keep in mind that as kids grow, they may have enough strength and curiosity to open the bottom, so try to keep windows locked and closed when they are not being used.
Keep your bed and furniture away from windows to keep your crawlers and climbers safe. Move chairs, cribs, and other furniture away from windows to discourage direct access. If you have space, make it a rule to play at least 2 feet from windows.
Window falls are not just a problem for those children who live in high rises. Most window falls occur from modest heights. If a fall does happen, call 911. Never move a child who appears to be seriously injured after a fall; let trained medical personnel move the child with proper precautions. Let’s all enjoy the warmer weather safely and help prevent window falls.
