👀 Small town, big league numbers??? 🧐
Fire District 3 personnel experienced a record setting year of approximately 9,800 individual 911 calls. But more than one unit is often required to respond to emergencies. Many fire departments calculate this different number as responses or “runs” due to the collective physical response needed. A single emergency call may have several teams abruptly dropping what they are doing and running to their rigs.
For example, a cardiac arrest (CPR) call requires pit-crew style lifesaving work and equipment. When a CPR happens in Diamond Point, you could see the following units responding depending on who is available and not already on other calls:
Medic 37
Medic 34A
Batallion 3
Several volunteers and their personal vehicles, or their Aid35 Ambulance
Olympic Ambulance (If available and in town)
So just like that, a single 911 call/incident requires multiple units to to handle the job at hand. The same goes for certain motor vehicle collisions, structure fires, or just from units clearing previous calls and being closer than others to a new call when multiple calls are happening at the same time, which is now common for the district.
Currently, Fire District 3 does not formally calculate the total number of responses generated from calls. However, it is safe to hypothesize that the true workload—measured in responses rather than incidents—is significantly higher than the 9,800 call figure. That number would likely be eye-opening and it highlights the growing operational demands and impacts facing your responders today.
To learn more and get involved with FD3, visit ccfd3.org/board-meetings
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January 12 marks 3 years since the passing of our fallen brother, Charles “Chad” Cate. As we look back at that day and the monumental efforts of the community and department to celebrate and honor his life in the weeks that followed, his memory lives on and continues to burn in our hearts. Chad was discovered by his crew at Station 34 in Sequim from an apparent cardiac arrest after a busy shift. He is missed dearly by his family, friends, and colleagues. Photo by Jay R Cline.
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The final numbers are being calculated but it's safe to say Fire District 3 personnel experienced record setting call volume last year, receiving approximately 9,800 calls for help.
"Based on year-end trends, we expected to surpass 10,000 calls for the first time in the district’s history. It’s a record we did not hope to set, but it reflects the growth and evolving needs of the community we serve." - Chief Justin Grider, via Sequim Gazette (Article in comments)
*Fire district 3 by the numbers:
Sequim - staffed with 5 personnel making 2 cross staffed units
Carslborg - staffed with 3 personnel making 1 cross staffed unit
Blyn - staffed with 2 personnel making 1 cross staffed unit
+ 1 Battalion Chief
+ 1 day time Basic Life Support ambulance Tues-Fri
+ 1 Community Paramedic
*Reflects minimum staffing levels
Compare to 5,050 calls in 2008 with the same number of full time staffed units as today.
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