CKFR and the Bremerton Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the 2600 block of NE Garinger Street. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from the eaves. Homeowners were not present at the time. The fire is extinguished, but the structure suffered significant damage. The County Fire Marshal will investigate the cause.
CKFR responded to a single vehicle rollover off Perry Ave. The road was closed both directions at Perry and Riddell. The driver was ejected and was transported to be Airlifted. Bremerton Fire also responded and KCSO is investigating the cause. Drivers were asked to avoid the area.
Most people know that “EMS” refers to emergency medical services provided by a local fire department. However, many don’t realize that their fire agency actually responds to more emergency medical calls than fires, and that there are different levels of care it can provide when doing so.
EMS accounted for 64 percent of all Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s 8,827 emergency calls in 2020. The Fire District funds its emergency medical program through a six-year EMS levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters last approved the EMS levy in 2015. Since that time, call volumes have increased 24 percent for EMS-related incidents alone. The CKFR Board of Fire Commissioners likely will ask the community to renew the EMS levy at the same voter-approved rate before it expires at the end of the year.
There are two levels of care for EMS programs that fire districts can provide. Most offer Basic Life Support (BLS) with emergency medical technicians who have completed 160 hours in first aid, CPR training, and administering some medications. This type of care is primarily for non-critical care cases.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) is the highest level of care available. ALS uses paramedics who have completed 1,800 hours of training and education on life-saving procedures such as starting IV’s, administering medications, surgical procedures to clear airways, treating injuries related to trauma emergencies, pediatric critical care and advanced cardiac life support.
CKFR provides both BLS and ALS care to residents because of funding from a voter-approved EMS levy. It runs one BLS and three ALS transport units 24-hours a day. The Fire District also takes its EMS program one step further, says Medical Officer Eric Chamberlain, who is also a firefighter/paramedic for the community.
“It’s not just a matter of having trained paramedics,” said Chamberlain. “We’re constantly learning new things and adapting to be progressive in the care we provide and medical equipment we use for savings lives.”
CKFR introduced a mechanical CPR program in 2020. Traditional CPR programs use manual chest compressions, which are labor intensive and require as many as six trained professionals to do. CKFR purchased mechanical devices that are more efficient and provide a better outcome.
The agency also worked with other fire districts to secure a grant to replace four portable ventilators last year. Ventilators are used to mechanically breathe for patients who are struggling to do so on their own. These ventilators are lightweight – only 10 pounds, and allow Paramedics to provide precise and efficient respiratory treatment for patients while in the field.
Chamberlain also is proud of CKFR’s new pediatric critical care program that uses technology to identify correct dosing amounts of medicine for children. In the past, paramedics had to do manual calculations in the field, which delayed care and was stressful for both parents and the providers.
“I’ve lived here my entire life. My whole family lives here. It’s a good feeling to know that we are constantly changing and adapting to new technology that provides our residents with the best EMS care possible,” said Chamberlain.
CKFR was dispatched at 10:47 am to a possible residential structure fire in the 10000 block of Ashley Circle NW. Upon arrival, no smoke or flames were seen and the two story home was evacuated.
On investigation, crews discovered a bathroom fan had caught fire, but there was no extension and no major damage.
Emergency personnel for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue responded to 8,827 calls for help in 2020, 64 percent (5,644) of which were for emergency medical service (EMS). Total calls dipped slightly compared to 2019 (9,127), but the percentage of EMS calls has stayed the same.
Fire Chief John Oliver says that these statistics are likely due to the pandemic. More people were staying home in the early stages of the mandated “stay at home” orders which meant fewer emergencies. However, the percentage of emergency medical calls held constant due to COVID-19 concerns or responses.
CKFR provides the highest level of emergency medical care for residents. Highly-trained Paramedics offer Advanced Life Support (or “ALS”), which means residents get Emergency Room-like care when they call 911. CKFR Paramedics can perform lifesaving cardiac procedures, surgical airway techniques, and provide intravenous medications to save lives when time is a factor. The Fire District also has portable hospital-grade ventilators in medic units, which have been used to treat patients with respiratory issues associated with COVID-19.
“Our community has invested in an EMS program that provides a 24-hour Paramedic response,” said Chief Oliver. “That’s the highest level of care possible that a fire district can provide from the time we arrive on scene and all the way to a hospital.”
The community’s EMS program is funded through a 6-year levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters last renewed the levy in 2015, and it will expire at the end of the year. CKFR likely will ask voters to renew the EMS levy at the same rate sometime this fall.
At 1:00 pm, a call came in for a fire in the Griffin Glen Apartments in Bremerton. On arrival, crews noticed smoke coming from building 5117. The fire was located and contained in a dryer in one of the apartments. Two occupants were treated and released on scene. The apartment is uninhabitable and Red Cross was called to assist the occupants. The County Fire Marshal was also dispatched.
A traffic collision on Riddell this morning caused one car to careen off the road and land partially into the side of a self-storage office. CKFR crews extricated the driver and transported them to St. Michael’s Medical Center in Silverdale. The County Fire Marshal was dispatched to determine the structural stability of the building and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the collision. The other driver involved was not transported.
The cause of a fire that badly damaged a Bremerton home on January 31st is still under investigation by the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office. CKFR crews were dispatched at 8:50 am to the 15000 block of NW Rhododendron Court, Bremerton. Upon arrival, heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the home. The call was quickly upgraded to a second alarm and crews from Bremerton Fire and Navy Region Northwest responded to assist. It was reported that the only occupant home at the time was a 14-year-old male. He awoke to the sound of smoke alarms and quickly went to his neighbor’s house for help. His mom had been home earlier in the morning but wasn’t home at the time of the fire. The house suffered significant smoke and fire damage and was deemed uninhabitable. There were no injuries to occupants or fire crew.More information will be released when the investigation concludes.
Firefighters battled an attic fire in the 2800 block of Wymoing Street this evening. PSE was dispatched to turn off power as crews got the fire under control. CKFRs drone was flown to look for any hot spots existing in the structure. There were no injuries.
CKFR and Bremerton Fire units were on scene of what was dispatched as a kitchen fire with occupants possibly trapped in the 3000 block of Ridgeview Drive NE. Thankfully, it was an electrical fire, no injuries, and minimal damage.
