Medical Lake Fire expects to set service call record in 2008

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

With the summer season wrapped up and a slew of newly recruited firefighter volunteers signing on, Medical Lake Fire Department will close out the fiscal year under-budget, and more stable in terms of staffing, depertment officials say.

At one point last July, MLFD dropped to a volunteer head count of 13, and later experienced equipment issues with a newly purchased used fire engine that set back its use date.

At the same time, Spokane County was on high alert with the summer fire season in full swing. It all prompted the department chief and captains to step up their efforts to recruit more people willing to serve their community—something interim Fire Chief of one year, Brian Musser, says MLFD never stops doing.

“We're always looking for volunteers, but it's only been in the last four months we've really gotten more aggressive with our recruitment and advertising,” Musser said. The department doesn't really have a benchmark of how many volunteers it must maintain, he added, but the staff goes by former Fire Chief Gino Palomino's recruitment strategy of “each one reach one,” meaning every volunteer does their part to bring at least one other person on board.

But even continued recruitment didn't prevent the department from coming up short on volunteers during the peak of fire season.

Department Capt. Jason Mayfield said between the months of July and August, MLFD saw a “steady volume of calls.” Medical Lake managed to skirt the intense fires that ravaged Spokane Valley and other parts of the county further east, although volunteer crews did respond to two wildfires in the city limits. This didn't include structural fires, he added.

“We responded to numerous other brush fires within our neighboring jurisdictions as well…we're definitely on peg to set another record for a total volume of calls,” Mayfield said.

MLFD's total number of service calls for fire and emergency medical services in 2007 was 523; this year, Musser said, the projected number is 600 or more.

When staff numbers dropped down, officials looked to local businesses to advertise. One posting in LinDeBee's Diner's roadside sign, Mayfield said, came in particularly handy.

“Most businesses in town support what we do,” Musser said.

Information about volunteer opportunities are also posted on the city website, http://www.medical-lake.org, under the Fire Department listing in the “City Services” sidebar. Training is typically held the first and third Saturdays of every month from 8 a.m. to noon at the downtown station, located at 124 S. Lefevre St. Recruits must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED, be wiling to complete a medical physical exam, background checks, carry a pager at all times, and commit to a minimum 12 hours (one shift) of volunteer work a week.

Since summer ended, seven new volunteers have come on board, among them Cheney resident and college student Mark Johnson, who sought field experience before earning certification in fire science from Spokane Community College.

Johnson originally started out in law enforcement, but changed directions after a firefighter buddy suggested he look into the fire service. “My plan is being a career firefighter. There's lots to learn and no one day is the same. You might get no calls [here], or have several in one day, ” Johnson said.

When asked how initial trainings have gone, Johnson said though most volunteers have years of experience, they're very willing to show newbies the ropes.

“My first impression was everyone was very outgoing and friendly,” Johnson said, who, along with four other new recruits, will begin fire academy training this month.

MLFD is still taking volunteers at this time, and information about recruitment and job responsibilities are available by calling the department at (509) 565-5022, or online at http://www.medical-lake.org/citserv/joinfd.asp.

Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]