WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 11
Lummi Island
Fire Department
3809 Legoe Bay
Road * P.O. Box 130 * Lummi Island, WA
98262
In 2006, The department
responded to 18% fewer in incidents. This was the most significant decrease in
call volume in many years. It suggests that the residents and visitors are
paying more attention to fire and personal safety. We hope this trend
continues. Other activities included upgrades in technology and equipment, an
EMT class delivered on island and many live fire exercises.
Each member received a
complete set of brand new turnout gear provided by a FEMA grant of $43,805.
This grant required only $2,305 of matching funds from your hard earned tax
dollars to complete. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
awarded us a 50% matching grant to finish equipping all volunteers with
wildland gear. We applied for a
Department of Health grant to purchase hydraulic extrication tools (Jaws of
Life) but were unsuccessful. The Firefighters Association decided to raise
funds to acquire the tools. The success of this fund raiser has been truly
amazing and illustrates your support of the volunteers.
On December 1, we received
word that FEMA approved our 2007 grant for $108,404 to purchase new breathing
apparatus and a compressor with a fill station. The new equipment will replace
our 15-year old units. The air compressor will allow us to fill our storage
bottles rather than taking them to town to be refilled.
The replacement process of
your initial attack apparatus continued. After clearly defining the major
issues that led to rejecting of the apparatus in 2005, another set of
specifications were developed and sent out for bid which was awarded in
October. Commissioner Busch, Assistant Chief Stocker and I meet with the
manufacturer at the plant in Florida where it will be built. After going
through each line of the specifications and touring the facility, the three of
us feel very confident we will receive a well built unit that meets our
specifications. The estimated delivery is early fall 2007.
The department connected to
high speed internet which was prompted by a new on-line EMS continuing
education program being used by all fire agencies in the county. Seven members
completed an EMT course that was delivered on-island. In true Lummi Island
fashion, they quickly set up dinner on rotations so they could eat while they
learned. EMS and Fire training takes
place three Thursday nights each month except in July and August. The annual
hands-on skills training for everyone else took place in the first quarter
while the EMT class was in session. All the members’ skills were reinforced
with a multi-scenario exercise on a Saturday in June. Fire Training covered hazardous materials, building construction,
extrication, pre-fire planning, command and radio procedures and multiple live
fire exercises. The high attendance rate shows the volunteers’ commitment to
better themselves and the hard work of the officers to provide quality
training.
The fourth annual Open House
was well-attended and many prevention, safety and awareness materials were
distributed. The fire extinguisher program and training was a huge
success. Fire Prevention week was a lot
of fun. We visited Beach School and talked with all the students about fire
safety and accident prevention. The Firewise program continued with DNR
spending a week with their chipper all over the island. Fuel reduction around
homes is very important for our isolated community.
The Disaster Preparedness
program continued to develop education and preparedness plans. The main event
in 2006 was the start of “Map Your Neighborhood”, a State Program that has been
developed in urban and suburban areas. Lummi Island was chosen as a pilot
program to test its effectiveness in a rural setting. There had been great response and involvement from the community.
We saw its value in November and December when we were reminded how vulnerable
the electrical distribution grid is to Mother Nature. We hope to see increased
participation in the program as it continues to develop over the upcoming
years.
Your three elected
Commissioners do an excellent job of governing and looking ahead at upcoming
issues. It is important to point out they do more than pay the bills and
approve the budget. Each one spends as much time as possible with other
district commissioners to address legislative issues and countywide problems.
None of them elects to receive pay for their activities and together they spent
over 198 hours collectively on department-related activities. For the second
year in a row, the board unanimously agreed not to file for the 1% tax increase
allowed by law.
The membership dedicated about 2,408 volunteer hours serving you; 1,496 training, 505 performing weekly truck inspections and 407 hours on emergency responses. It is impossible to put an exact price on the value of our volunteers’ time but it would be accurate to say “a lot”. I am very proud to list each of those dedicated, unpaid professionals below. Please note the years of service each has dedicated to our community and the diverse professions of this group. Following the member list is a snapshot of the 2006 financial activity, the 2007 budget and the 2006 emergency response data.
|
Member |
Training |
Rank |
Years |
Occupation / Company |
|
Mike Moye |
Firefighter FR |
Captain |
33 |
Tree Cutter / Logger -
Self Employed |
|
John Granger |
Firefighter / Nurse |
Medical |
30 |
Flight Nurse - Airlift
Northwest |
|
Joan Moye |
Firefighter / FR |
Safety |
29 |
Tree Cutter / Logger -
Self Employed |
|
Jud Elkes |
Firefighter / FR |
Captain |
27 |
Tooling Specialist -
Wright Brothers |
|
Ernie Pearson |
Firefighter IFA |
Firefighter |
23 |
Operator - Whatcom Chief |
|
Judy Thomas |
Support / EMT |
Medical |
19 |
Teacher - Ferndale School
District |
|
Duncan McLane |
Firefighter EMT |
Chief |
18 |
Welder / Fabricator -
Colonial Metal Works |
|
Aaron Rupp |
Firefighter FR |
Firefighter |
18 |
Political Analyst |
|
John Mulhern |
Firefighter EMT |
Captain |
15 |
Deckhand / Purser /
Operator - Whatcom Chief |
|
Curt Stocker |
Firefighter FR |
Asst. Chief |
15 |
Home Inspector - C&S
Home Inspections |
|
Bob Busch |
Firefighter / FR |
Firefighter |
14 |
Engineer Retired |
|
Shawn Bass |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
9 |
Self Employed |
|
Mike Rawley |
Support / IFA |
Firefighter |
9 |
Economic Development
Director - The Lummi Nation |
|
Jim Lane |
Paramedic |
Medical |
8 |
Paramedic / Firefighter -
Bellingham Fire |
|
Tom Lutz |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
5 |
Contractor |
|
Mark Cross |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
4 |
Mortgage Broker - Security
First Mortgage |
|
Alucia Taylor |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
3 |
Nanny |
|
Larry Roteman |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
3 |
Retired - Electrical
Engineer |
|
Ed Scott |
Firefighter/ IFA |
Firefighter |
3 |
Retired - United States
Coast Guard |
|
John Fincke |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
3 |
Retired - US Army |
|
Gary Poole |
Firefighter/ IFA |
Firefighter |
3 |
Deckhand / Purser /
Operator - Whatcom Chief |
|
Mike Lish |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
3 |
Electrician - Gateway
Controls |
|
Terry Terry |
Firefighter/ EMT |
Firefighter |
3 |
Director/Producer - Terry
Terry Productions |
BUDGET
|
TAX REVENUE |
Budget 2006 |
Actual
2006 |
Budget
2007 |
|
Fire - Levy |
$122,700.94 |
$
108,121.68 |
$ 126,529.45 |
|
EMS - Levy |
$31,453.25 |
$ 50,419.60 |
$ 32,412.18 |
|
INVESTMENT INTEREST |
|
|
|
|
Fire Interest |
|
$ 12,847.06 |
|
|
EMS Interest |
|
$ 914.98 |
|
|
DONATIONS |
|
|
|
|
Memorials & Other |
|
$ 1,083.57 |
|
|
MISC |
|
|
|
|
Burn Permits |
|
$ 550.00 |
|
|
Grant Money |
|
$ 1,949.45 |
|
|
Ferndale School |
|
$ 54.08 |
|
|
TOTAL INCOME |
$154,154.19 |
$
175,940.42 |
$ 158,941.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|||
|
LEGISLATIVE |
|||
|
Legislative Services |
$11,555.00 |
$ 9,155.19 |
$ 14,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIRE CONTROL |
|||
|
Administration |
$27,025.00 |
$ 18,572.87 |
$ 25,875.00 |
|
Operations & Suppression |
$31,545.00 |
$ 18,130.16 |
$ 42,675.00 |
|
Prevention |
$400.00 |
$ 708.18 |
$ 150.00 |
|
Fire Training |
$7,800.00 |
$ 3,098.54 |
$ 7,800.00 |
|
Fire Facilities |
$11,279.00 |
$ 4,483.69 |
$ 7,025.00 |
|
TOTAL FIRE |
$78,049.00 |
$ 44,993.44 |
$ 83,525.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES |
|||
|
Administration |
$14,800.00 |
$ 9,023.68 |
$ 13,775.00 |
|
Training |
$17,400.00 |
$ 11,730.59 |
$ 8,000.00 |
|
Facilities |
$5,610.00 |
$ 2,259.36 |
$ 4,225.00 |
|
Rescue & Emergency Aid |
$11,320.00 |
$ 5,374.04 |
$ 17,005.00 |
|
TOTAL EMS |
$49,130.00 |
$ 28,387.67 |
$ 43,005.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL OUTLAY |
|||
|
Land |
$16,000.00 |
$ 15,909.84 |
$ 16,000.00 |
|
Other improvements |
$0.00 |
$ - |
$ 12,000.00 |
|
Machinery & Equipment |
$183,000.00 |
$ 2,815.11 |
$ 240,947.00 |
|
TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY |
$199,000.00 |
$ 18,724.95 |
$ 268,947.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EXPENSES |
$
337,734.00 |
$
101,261.25 |
$ 409,477.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCOUNT BALANCES 12/31/06 |
|||
|
Cash Expense Account |
|
$ 79,422.05 |
|
|
Expense Investment Account |
|
$
331,312.29 |
|
|
EMS Investment Account |
|
$ 23,448.20 |
|
|
TOTAL CASH ASSETS |
|
$
434,182.54 |
|
Incidents in 2006
Fire 9 18%
Rescue
& EMS 30 60%
Hazardous Conditions(No fire) 6 12%
Good Intent Call 1 2%
False Alarm & False Call 3 6%
Service Call 1 2%
Grand Total: 50
Ø
Average Response Time:
11.80 Minutes
Ø
Incident Hours: 44 Hours
Ø
Volunteer Hours on Incidents: 407 Hours
Thank
you to the families of volunteers who put up with their absences on Thursday
nights and when they are called to duty be it in the middle of the night,
holiday dinners or other inopportune times.
A bigger thank you to all volunteers for their dedication and time spent
training and responding to our community’s call for help. Without them, our
community would be in dire straits. If anyone is interested in joining the emergency
response team, please call us or show up at 7:00 pm on one of the first three
Thursday evenings of each month. I would also like to thank the businesses,
organizations and individuals on the Island for their continued support as well
as the various baked goods and donations.
It means a lot.
Respectfully
Submitted: Chief Duncan McLane,
Lummi Island Fire Department
2006 annual report
Postal
Customer
Lummi Island, WA 98262