On Monday January 13th Benton County Fire District 6 responded to eight motor vehicle accidents in five hours on Interstate 82. Winter weather ice and snow hit our Fire District around 3:00 pm on Monday. Drivers on Interstate 82 experienced severe driving conditions. Many of whom, did not have vehicles that were ready for the slick conditions or were traveling too fast. Luckily no one was seriously injured.

BCFD6 has completed the build of a new fire truck and has added it to the fleet. The 1998 Stewart and Stevens chassis comes from federal surplus. The truck will enhance the ability of BCFD6 to fight wildland fires in rugged terrain. It holds 1250 gallons of water and other wildland firefighting equipment. All of the equipment mounted to the truck has been bolted on. This will make it easier to remove and place on a new truck in the event this chassis wears out or breaks beyond repair. This truck is slower on the highway than many new vehicles, but more than makes up for being slow once its off the road fighting fires.

I-82 Vehicle Fire

Benton County Fire District 6 (BCFD6) is building a list of interested fire service Volunteers and Career personnel to fill (4) 24 hour  Volunteer Paid- on-Call positions. These positions have been developed to supplement our Career and Volunteer staff providing additional personnel to respond to emergency calls within the boundaries of BCFD6 and mutual aid agencies. Volunteers will be able to sign up for days that are convenient and fit their schedule. Several lists will be developed one for EMS/Fire qualified, Fire only qualified and EMS only qualified. If dual certified personnel are not available, EMS or Fire only qualified personnel will be able to fill open positions.

Required Qualifications:        

• Volunteer or Career, in good standing, with a BCFD6 Quad County mutual aid agency
• Certified structural firefighter or Washington State Equivalent (must be confirmed by Chief or Training Officer.) or EMS certified or Both.
• CPR and First Aid certified

Preferred Qualifications:    

• EMT Basic or higher (must be qualified to work under the Benton County Physician Advisor— Dr. Hodges)
• Wildland Firefighter 2 or higher (must be confirmed by Chief or Training Officer.)
• Current EVIP certification (must be confirmed by Chief or Training Officer.)
• HazMat training
• Advanced Wildland training certifications

Job Duties:

• Paid-on-Call Volunteers will be required to attend approximately one hour of training each day on shift. Training sessions will cover district vehicles, district familiarization, equipment familiarization, BCFD6 tactics and response readiness.
• Respond to emergency calls for service as directed by the Fire Chief or Duty Officer.
• Keeping living spaces presentable and clean.
•  Volunteers must be available for immediate response within the District boundaries.

Compensation:

1 shift = $ 150 + Volunteer response points for each call. (Response points vary from $15 to $88 depending blocks of time)

Download the Volunteer Paid-On-Call Interest Form and email to chiefwatt@bcfd6.com  or mail to Chief Watt at BCFD6 P.O. Box 218 Paterson, WA 99345.

Paid on call interest form

E1662 Grass Rig

Driving can be a challenging task in good weather conditions, but add in the factors of snow, fog, and/or ice and the task can become dangerous.  If driving in winter conditions can be avoided it is best to do so.  If driving is unavoidable stick to the highways/roads most often travelled as they are more likely to have been plowed or sanded by road crews.  On the roads less traveled it could hours before someone drives by to assist you.

Leave for your destination with plenty of time for travel and keep the speed within your vehicle and your own abilities.

An open parking lot is a great place to get used to bad conditions after a long summer of good weather.

On Icy/Snowy Roads:

¨ Keep the speed to a minimum and leave plenty of room to stop.

¨ Apply the brakes gently to avoid skidding.

¨ Keep the windshield clean and the vehicle headlights on.

¨ Bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads will be the first to collect ice.

If your Vehicle gets stuck:

¨ Do not spin your wheels, it will only dig your vehicle deeper.

¨ Use a shovel to dig snow out from the tires as well as a path in the direction you want to go.

¨ Apply gentle pressure to the gas pedal and avoid sharp movements of the steering wheel.

¨ Call for help early; It could be a while from the time you call till help arrives.

¨ Items to put in a winter safety kit: Shovel, tire chains, ice scraper, road flares, flashlight, batteries, water, snacks, blanket, gloves, and boots.

Sources: The Weather Channel, WSDOT, and National Safety Council.

Benton County Fire District 6 (BCFD6) is currently accepting applications for Volunteer Firefighter. In recent years our volunteer ranks have dwindled. BCFD6 is not unique in its need for volunteers. There is a national trend towards diminishing volunteer numbers. With busier lifestyles people have not been able to dedicate as much time to volunteering. BCFD6 understands you are busy. We will work around your schedule for training and participation. Please consider serving your community. Lives depend on dedicated volunteers responding in their time of need. Come learn skills that you will have for the rest of your life. The skills you learn as a volunteer will help keep you and your family safer. Volunteering for BCFD6 is an extremely rewarding experience; Help save a life!

Volunteer Application Download