By Rich Osborne
Yes, Vashon, at long last, we need to fully fund our fire department.
Someone wiser than I said “Expecting better results while repeating the same behavior is the definition of insanity.” VIFR just getting by is risky in a warming climate with, whisper it, GLOBAL WARMING increasing our fire risk every year. Everyone’s main asset is their home. Burning one’s home is the death knell to financial security. And that doesn’t even address the personal tragedy of losing everything one owns.
It has been suggested that VIFR form partnerships with other service providers. At the same time, it is suggested that administrative time be lowered in priority. So, which one do you want? Partnerships with private companies, which don’t come cheap, or less administrative time to provide competent management? This proposal takes money from public employees to improve the bottom line of private corporations. But the proposal is to reduce costs. TriMed LLC from Kent, WA is a for profit corporation. They take customers to collections. VIFR does not do this. You want us to hire these guys?
Our firefighters risk their lives on a regular basis. THEY RUN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS, for God’s sake. They die young from the toxic chemicals in those burning buildings. Highest cancer risk of any profession I know.
Every Vashon firefighter should have two sets of the best, safest, high-tech gear on the market today. Why two? So that one set can be cleaned, dried, and prepped for the next call out. On Vashon we provide one set. The absolute minimum the law requires. Shame on us. VIFR is valiantly try to scrimp together the cash to fix this shortcoming, but should not have to. We should be there for them, like they are there for us.
Our firefighters risk their lives on a regular basis. THEY RUN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS, for God’s sake. They die young from the toxic chemicals in those burning buildings. Highest cancer risk of any profession I know.
It has been stated that the “Vashon population has only grown by 5% over the last 6 years.” The 2020 census states that our population is growing younger. I question these statistics. They remind me of the Mark Twain statement, “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” I believe what my eyes report to me. I see the Vashon population growing older. I shopped at Thriftway today. I looked around to see that two-thirds of the customers were seniors. Two-thirds!
It has been suggested that VIFR rely on volunteers. Great idea. Where are these volunteer firefighters to come from? With so many of our younger citizens priced off-Island, good luck with that.
It has been suggested that we refurbish our old fire equipment. Really? Look! Up in the sky! Do you see any biplanes? No. Why not? They are not safe to fly. New-generation fire equipment has safety upgrades that saves firefighter’s lives. That is a simple truth.
Redeployment has been suggested. I respond that we need full crews to deploy safe firefighting teams. Splitting them up slows down the concentration of personnel and response times, putting lives at risk. And what about the response time/insurance rate jackpot? If our response times go beyond a certain mark, our fire insurance rates will skyrocket!
It has been suggested that we buy new equipment with bond money. People are complaining about the cost of a fire levy and our best solution is to add $2 MILLION in interest payments? It has been suggested that VIFR issue bonds for fire equipment? Issuing bonds are administrative black holes. But it has been suggested that we should lower the priority of administration.
It has been hinted that a failing levy is a good thing. When we are already so late out of the gate? Tell you what, when the inevitable firestorm arrives, pull out your checkbook and read your bank balance. I’m sure there will be enough light, as our houses burn down.
