Keizer Fire District reports steady call volume; two new ambulances expected in April

Keizer Fire District Chief Blanco told the council on March 17 that the district handled about 600 calls in February, including seven fire calls, roughly 480 emergency medical services calls, 34 service calls and 79 false alarms or detectors, numbers that staff said are "right about average" compared with the prior year. Chief Blanco said the district expects two new ambulances from a previously approved bond to arrive in April; the district also plans to hire two paramedics to staff them.

Nut graf: The fire district's report emphasized continuity in call volume, upcoming vehicle deliveries, training with partner agencies and the community risk reduction program used to identify home safety needs and provide follow-up resources.

The district also continues recruiting for non-response/support volunteers and reported three completed home-safety visits tied to community risk reduction. Chief Blanco described ongoing water-rescue training with neighboring departments and training with Northwest Natural. He noted a car-seat clinic scheduled for the following day and provided a contact number for appointments: (971) 707-0472. He also directed residents to the Oregon defensible-space webpage at www.oregondefensiblespace.org for assistance with defensible-space assessments.

Ending: The fire district plans to add staffing tied to the new ambulances in April and will continue community outreach and interagency training; staff encouraged residents to use defensible-space resources and the district's volunteer program.