New aid car, By Teri Baker last ymr voters in the Granite Falls area approved a levy lid lift from 96 cents to $1 .50 to provide more monies for the fire depart- ment (Snohomish County Fire Protection District #17). Now, those taxpayers have tangible proof of their tax dollars at work in the form of a new aid car, a new utility vehicle and another full time paid fire— fighter. "1 can’t say enough about our taxpayers who've supported us year after year,” Fire Commissioner Dave Craig said. "It’s impor- tant to us to give them the quality of service they deserve.” Assistant Fire Chief Rick Hjelle said the additional vehicles are vital to the fire de— partment since there hasbeen a 30% increase in calls within the district. In July alone there were 81. p7r’d'7 utility vehicle in Fire District 17 "We’re not getting a seasonal alarm in- crease," Hjelle said. “There’s just a steady increase generally." Granite Falls is no different than other fire departments across the countryinthatabout 80% ofits alarms areaid calls. Adding a new aid carhas been atop priority for thedistrict. The brand new, fire enginered aid car was built and purchased in Washington. It hasa 1989 Ford F-350 4x4 chassis and a pickup cab. The vehicle was selected because it features plenty of headroom and four feet of patient room with a center-mount stretcher, which enables the attendant to work from either side. Itis also easier to operate than someaid cars. With 36 square miles plus the Town of Granite Falls -to cover, the districtis pleased to add a new utility vehicle to its fleet. That vehicle will be used in rescue operations, as a command center when necessary, and for transporting personnel to classes required to maintain and upgrade skills. District 17’s fleet is now comprised of three aid units (the oldest is for sale), three fire engines, two water tankers, a command car and two utility vehicles. Department officials would like to get another engine on line in addition to or to replace the fire engine that is now 15 years old. District commissioners are doing what they can to keep up with growth in the area. Until June I, the only paid firefighter was Hjclle. Most of the volunteers work outside the Granite Falls area and are not available during the day. Adding Jim Clover to the staff has meant better coverage for the dis- trict. Clover, a graduate of Lake Stevens High sible." "There’s no cost but time,” Craig inter- jected. "We furnish the equipment, training, benefits and insurance.” Anyone 18 years or older can volunteer. Therearecurrentlyfourfemalevolunteersin " it if" . x the district. Young people ‘16 and 17 with a valid driver’s licence may qualify for the district's special high school volunteer pro- gram. For further information on becoming a volunteer, call 691-5553. “my School, has been a District 17 volunteer for four years. An Emergency Medical Techni- cian, he tested number one on the hiring list in both the written examinationand physical agility test. Having Glover on board does not dimin- ish the need for volunteers. Z "We need volunteers,”Hjelle said. "We’ll be doing recruiting classes as soon as pos- mag FIRE DISTRICT 17 Commissioner Dave Craig and Assistant Chief Rick Hjelle are pleased with the department's new aid car. The vehicle. along with a small utility vehicle. were purchased with monies voted by district taxpayers last year. (Photo by Teri Baker) , Author: , Accession/Object ID: 2004.83.8, Object Name: , Title: , Description: New aid car, utility vehicle in Fire District 17-8/23/89, OCR Text: New aid car, By Teri Baker last ymr voters in the Granite Falls area approved a levy lid lift from 96 cents to $1 .50 to provide more monies for the fire depart- ment (Snohomish County Fire Protection District #17). Now, those taxpayers have tangible proof of their tax dollars at work in the form of a new aid car, a new utility vehicle and another full time paid fire— fighter. "1 can’t say enough about our taxpayers who've supported us year after year,” Fire Commissioner Dave Craig said. "It’s impor- tant to us to give them the quality of service they deserve.” Assistant Fire Chief Rick Hjelle said the additional vehicles are vital to the fire de— partment since there hasbeen a 30% increase in calls within the district. In July alone there were 81. p7r’d'7 utility vehicle in Fire District 17 "We’re not getting a seasonal alarm in- crease," Hjelle said. “There’s just a steady increase generally." Granite Falls is no different than other fire departments across the countryinthatabout 80% ofits alarms areaid calls. Adding a new aid carhas been atop priority for thedistrict. The brand new, fire enginered aid car was built and purchased in Washington. It hasa 1989 Ford F-350 4x4 chassis and a pickup cab. The vehicle was selected because it features plenty of headroom and four feet of patient room with a center-mount stretcher, which enables the attendant to work from either side. Itis also easier to operate than someaid cars. With 36 square miles plus the Town of Granite Falls -to cover, the districtis pleased to add a new utility vehicle to its fleet. That vehicle will be used in rescue operations, as a command center when necessary, and for transporting personnel to classes required to maintain and upgrade skills. District 17’s fleet is now comprised of three aid units (the oldest is for sale), three fire engines, two water tankers, a command car and two utility vehicles. Department officials would like to get another engine on line in addition to or to replace the fire engine that is now 15 years old. District commissioners are doing what they can to keep up with growth in the area. Until June I, the only paid firefighter was Hjclle. Most of the volunteers work outside the Granite Falls area and are not available during the day. Adding Jim Clover to the staff has meant better coverage for the dis- trict. Clover, a graduate of Lake Stevens High sible." "There’s no cost but time,” Craig inter- jected. "We furnish the equipment, training, benefits and insurance.” Anyone 18 years or older can volunteer. Therearecurrentlyfourfemalevolunteersin " it if" . x the district. Young people ‘16 and 17 with a valid driver’s licence may qualify for the district's special high school volunteer pro- gram. For further information on becoming a volunteer, call 691-5553. “my School, has been a District 17 volunteer for four years. An Emergency Medical Techni- cian, he tested number one on the hiring list in both the written examinationand physical agility test. Having Glover on board does not dimin- ish the need for volunteers. Z "We need volunteers,”Hjelle said. "We’ll be doing recruiting classes as soon as pos- mag FIRE DISTRICT 17 Commissioner Dave Craig and Assistant Chief Rick Hjelle are pleased with the department's new aid car. The vehicle. along with a small utility vehicle. were purchased with monies voted by district taxpayers last year. (Photo by Teri Baker) , Granite Falls Historical Society,Documents (articles, clippings, letters, papers),General Articles & Documents,General Articles,General Articles 01,2004.83.8 (No title provided),2004.83.8 (No title provided) 1, 2004.83.8 (No title provided) 1