Valley Regional Fire Authority, the regional fire service that covers Auburn, Algona, Pacific and parts of unincorporated King County, operates as an independent municipal corporation focused on fire, rescue, emergency medical services and community risk reduction, Fire Chief Bridal Thompson said on a podcast hosted by Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus.

Thompson said VRFA was formed after a citizen vote in February 2007 and operates “like a special taxing district,” independent from the member cities. He emphasized that the agency places a strong emphasis on proactive programs such as school safety presentations, fire inspections and services for seniors to prevent emergencies before they occur. “The safest call is the one that we never have to go on,” Thompson said.

Thompson also described VRFA’s international accreditation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, calling it “a commitment to continuous improvement” based on third‑party review of operations, planning and response performance. He said the accreditation process included a multiweek on‑site review and a subsequent interview with an accreditation board and that the authority is preparing for a reaccreditation cycle.

The chief framed VRFA as a medium‑sized regional agency that balances local service with broader partnerships. He said data and analytics are used to align specialized resources to calls — for example, ensuring hazmat calls receive the right skill sets — and noted the organization’s emphasis on succession planning and training to maintain consistent service across leadership changes.

Ending: Thompson thanked residents for visible community support and said accreditation, analytics and community risk reduction are central to VRFA’s approach going forward.