Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order by Carol Johnson, VP, at 7:30am. Mark Nichols led the flag salute. Carol said Matthew Rainwater, PABA President, had his surgery and is up and moving around.

Minutes:

Andrew May moved to accept April 17 minutes, Jack G. seconded that with inclusion of minutes from April 10. Motion carried.

Guests:

Howard Strauss

Treasurers Report:

Jon Fager presented quarterly budget reporting 52 members and spending is in line. Board is working on getting past members to rejoin.

Announcements:

Julie Hatch reminded group of evening concert, at PAHS, which is to benefit Captain Joseph House.

Cherie Kidd invited all to the Community Service Award Ceremony on Thursday, 7pm, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. PABA member John Brewer will be one of those honored.

Kaj Ahlburg discussed Chamber Board meeting say they covered some of the same items as the PABA Governmental Affairs Committee: Those items were Federal Regulations and Storm Water; next School Levy and City Pier repairs.

Program:  Sam Phillips, District 2 Fire

Andrew May reminded all that not only do we live in a beautiful place, we are blessed with three Fire Districts all with trained staff.

Program Speaker, District 2 Fire Chief Sam Phillips introduced two staff members, Dan Huff and Mike DeRousie.

Sam traced the history of fire fighting from Roman times in 11BC to Nero in 61AD when Rome burned down in 6 days. (Note: Fiddle was not devised until later.) He said the patch on their uniform, depicts the Knights of Malta and St. John who fought the Saracens in the holy lands in 11th and 12th century. In thanks, they were awarded a cross which they then incorporated into the design of the patch.

In US history, no other but Ben Franklin founded the first volunteer fire unit. Others associated with fire fighting were Hamilton, Hancock, Adams and Revere. Today there are over 780,000 volunteers and 350,000 career firemen who help answer an average of calls every 23 seconds.

Clallam County volunteer fire service was started, by several women, in the Gales Addition. Growth in the District has in part been due to successful grants and passed levies. Three firefighters / EMTs were added in 2012 and another three in 2016. C2FR serves 85 square miles of unincorporated area from Deer Park to East Beach. It provides fire and emergency service to 10,000 people, and handles 1,500 calls a year with 4 – 5 calls per day. Chief Phillips cited a study “The Economic Impact of Success Commercial Fire Intervention” published by the Phoenix Fire Department in 2012. The study points out the direct, indirect and induced effects to the State, County and City due to fires. Loss can be due to death or injury and the destruction of a building. Loss of jobs, taxes, construction, supplies, lodging, tourism, schools, etc, can all come to millions of dollars.

Locally, volunteers make up over 60% of the staff, but this can fluctuate due to sickness, retirement, reasonable time, pass EMT class and exam and pass agility tests, be drug free and have a good driving record. Volunteers do get training, stipends, pension, life insurance, deferred compensation and assistance programs.

Q & A

Forest Fires?  Try to work with National Park, Tribe and DNR, but cuts in training and staff, limit help. Several times District has had to pay for helping.

What can a person, at home, do to help in case of emergency?  Post medical history, allergies, medications and emergency numbers on the front of the refrigerator. (Might help to let emergency responders know if the dog bites.)

Why both ambulance and medics at the same time? District tries to work with ambulance services but don’t always agree who goes first.  They do try to take turns. Customer, if responsive, has the right to choose which service they want. Fire District is usually faster, cheaper and better!

How can businesses help?  Passing of levies and becoming volunteers. Business owners with volunteers should let the volunteer respond to a call as soon as it comes in.

Passing of levies is important since most of the equipment, vehicles and living space are old and in need of repair / replacement.

Upcoming Meeting:

May 1: Betsy Reed Schultz, Captain Joseph House Foundation
May 8:  Boys & Girls Club
May 15: Kevin Hoult
May 22:  State Senator Kevin Van De Wege
May 29:  No Meeting

Meeting adjourned at 8:35am.