East Jefferson Fire Rescue chief: Funding fulfills a big need

Grant to help those who need services

PORT TOWNSEND — A $217,300 grant from the Association of Washington Cities that will fund a program to assist individuals to find the appropriate health services and community resources could not have arrived at a better time, according to Chief Bret Black of East Jefferson Fire Rescue.

High call volumes are continuing to increase and challenge the short-staffed department, Black told fire department commissioners on Wednesday.

“CARES is a fire-based program that focuses on the needs of our community that tries to get them the right referral or education or a combination of both as early as possible so that we can interrupt that cycle of, ‘There’s no one else to call, so we’re going to call the fire department,’ ” Black said.

“The goal is of CARES is to connect and reinforce the appropriate services and to try to reduce the impact to our 911 mission. That’s really what it’s all about.

“Many of these individuals have overlapping lifestyle management issues. Some of them are behavioral health issues, some are substance issues and some just need social services. Some need all of them.”

Connecting people with the help they need both improves their quality of life and reduces often unnecessary use of emergency responders, Black said.

Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue year-to-date call volume is up 21 percent and although East Jefferson has settled back down to about 4 percent, it is nonetheless rising.

Port Ludlow will merge into East Jefferson on Jan. 1 as the result of a voter-approved measure in the Nov. 8 general election.

East Jefferson’s is one of a number of fire agencies across the state that have CARES or similar programs whose teams reach out to people identified by first responders as potentially needing assistance, Black said.

East Jefferson has already hired a CARES specialist to manage the program, which is expected to be fully up and running in January.

“Prevention is a wise use of money, and a lot of what CARES is doing is, from my perspective, is going to be prevention,” Commissioner David Seabrook said. “I’m extremely optimistic and enthusiastic about the new program.”

The district’s ongoing struggle to attract firefighters and the pressure that has put on current personnel was discussed. Seabrook said that situation could change if the levy lid lift on the Feb. 14 special election ballot is approved,

“Departments all across the state have been having a hard time getting employees, so we’re not unique in that situation,” Seabrook said.

“We’ve been continuously trying to recruit, and paramedic staffing remains an issue. Hopefully, once we learn the outcome of the vote in February, we’ll be able to address it more effectively if we have better funding sources than we currently do.”

In other action, the board approved:

• Minimum on-duty staffing standards of at least 13 personnel to include one on-duty battalion chief or acting battalion chief, three company officers with at least two commissioned lieutenants, three paramedics and enough firefighters to meet minimum.

• A concurrent resolution with Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue that transferred its property, funds and assets to East Jefferson as part of the merger between the two districts.

________

Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.

More in News

Peninsula Behavioral Health head discusses the fallout from federal bill

Anticipated cuts to Medicaid could devastate rural communities like Clallam County, leading… Continue reading

Tool library to open in Port Townsend

Drills, saws and more available to borrow

Fire restriction implemented on federal lands

Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have restricted campfires… Continue reading

Interdependence Day celebration set for Sunday

Chimacum will host its 14th Interdependence Day celebration on Sunday.… Continue reading

Matthew P. Deines, Outgoing President/CEO, First Fed
First Fed CEO resigns

Bank begins search for replacement

PAHS class of 1975 reunion planned

The Port Angeles High School Class of 1975 is… Continue reading

Lower Elwha Klallm Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles, left, speaks about the Paddle to Elwha 2025 canoe journey as Carmen Watson-Charles, the tribe’s cultural manager, holds an informational pamphlet during a presentation to the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Thousands expected for canoe journey this month

Tribe anticipates speeches, songs and traditional dance

Glass recycling returns to Jeffco

Port Townsend, Quilcene locations available

Port of Port Townsend OKs update to its strategic plan

Commissioners discuss economic development

Reservoir project to start this weekend

Lower water pressure expected through Aug. 1

Forks institutes voluntary water conservation measures

The city of Forks is requesting residents to follow voluntary… Continue reading