West Pierce Fire & Rescue announcement.
Two new fire engines were put into service following their “push back” ceremonies. Historically, when a new piece of apparatus is added to the fleet, it is customary to bless the vehicle, wash it and push it back into the apparatus bay, signifying it is ready to respond to the next emergency. This tradition dates back to the 1800s where the fire service had horse-drawn equipment. Since the animals were unable to back into the station, firefighters had to detach the horses and push the equipment into the bay.
Around town, the community will notice Engine 22, which runs out of the Lake City station and Engine 24, which runs out of the Oakbrook station, as the newest vehicles in West Pierce Fire & Rescue’s fleet. Each of these engines were blessed by WPFR chaplains, washed and pushed back into their bays by West Pierce personnel, ready and waiting to run their first 9-1-1 call.
These engines were purchased in mid-2020, but due to production time, were recently delivered and ready to be placed in service. Both engines being replaced were from 2008 and will be placed in reserve status.
Anyone else wonder why each typical station has two fire vehicles and one medic unit? On average, 96% of calls are medically related. Fire calls make up 4%. It’s common to see fire trucks, not ambulances, report first to aid calls as the ambulance is either already busy or simply waiting on an imminent emergency.
If 24 of every 25 calls are for one of three vehicles, the system is inefficient. To make matters worse, the cost of an ambulance is less than half of what the engines run. Let’s not look at the fancy six-figure battalion rigs are driving around for the sole purpose of transporting the upper management of the department to work from their home.
Before voting yes on future levies for Fire, perhaps we should all vote no until they can start to be better stewards of our public money.
People complain about schools or other public agencies wasting money. The fattest hogs at the trough are from the local fire agencies who have done nothing but managed to take a profession that people trust and slam that trust by misusing taxpayer funds.
“Before voting yes on future levies …. vote no until they can start to be better stewards of our public money.”
Well said! Those words are music to my ears for ALL levels of governmental/taxing districts.
It would be nice if the fire dept would reply to Mr Anderson’s comments
Try prying someone out of a rollover car wreck or semi with multiple injuries with an ambulance. Try rescuing multiple people from a 3–alarm apartment fire. When you need a fire truck, you need a fire truck, an ambulance won’t do.
What percentage of WPFR calls are for your…”Try prying someone out of a rollover car wreck or semi with multiple injuries” & “Try rescuing multiple people from a 3–alarm apartment fire.”? Do you feel WPFR should have an unlimited budget? Shouldn’t funding allocation follow actual needs? Is there an alternative type of smaller vehicle to roll with ambulances? Such as the “Squad”. Saving costs and wear on fire/ladder trucks. Thanks
Rather astonishing these WPFR critics cannot imagine the importance and value of essential equipment for which there is no practical substitute. Let’s hope these budget nay-sayers never need what they scorn. My confidence and support remains with our responsive department, alert and ready for the complex disaster scenarios we must hope never visit Lakewood, JBLM and western Pierce County.
This is not in the least important, but. I think of the time that my dad as the then fire chief in Lakewood, drove an open cab truck from New York to here in the winter. It was parked in our driveway on Wildaire Road for a day or so, much to the excitement of the neighborhood kids
Bob Warfield, I agree with your comment. These are the same people who would criticize WPFD for not being prepared enough if we had a major disaster like a train derailment. We have disaster drills at hospitals for various scenarios to prepare for the possibility of a mass casualty event. I stand with the WPFD.
WPFR funding has increased 50% in the last 6 years, far more than either inflation or the call volume. The levy rate for WPFR is 50% higher than any other district in the county. On average, Pierce County residents pay 11% of their taxes for fire. Residents in WPFR area pay 22% – double the county average. The citizens of UP and Lakewood also subsidize the funding for residents of Steilacoom who only pay 1/3rd of what they should for the same service levels. Would you believe that WPFR has 3 fire boats? Residents of UP pay 3.5 times more for fire protection than for police even though crime is a much higher priority based on recent surveys. I am supportive of a robust fire & rescue service, but WPFR is funding way outside what it should be. They are also looking to pass 2 bond levies in August which will raise taxes & their funding to even higher levels. If you are interested in learning more and want your voice to be heard, come to the WPFR Board meeting – 5:30 PM on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays. I have been going and would love some company! Chris H.