Fire chief reports rising call volume, recent deployments and levy plans

Andrew Shaffron, introduced at the meeting as fire chief for South Thorson Fire, updated the council on recent operations and staffing.

Shaffron said the department has sent crews to multiple mutual‑aid deployments — including three to the Wild End Fire and responses elsewhere in Central Washington and Mason County — and fought a roughly 5‑acre grass/brush fire in Rochester. He reported 34 calls in the city boundaries in the last month and told the council that, over the past four years, call volume has increased by about 24%.

"In the last month, we've had 34 calls in the city boundaries... Over the last 4 years, we have about a 24% increase in call volume," Shaffron said, noting the department has been managing increased demand while operating at the end of a six‑year levy cycle.

Shaffron said the department hired a ninth career firefighter who is attending the fire academy and will return to place three career personnel on each shift when training concludes. He described cost‑sharing arrangements with neighboring departments for positions such as a mechanic and a training captain to align procedures and reporting systems and said the department hopes to return the levy rate toward $1.50 (it was described at about $1.20–$1.21 at present).

Councilors asked about property negotiations and mutual‑aid coordination; Shaffron said staff will continue meetings about a letter of intent for a property acquisition and explore other options if negotiations fall through.

The council expressed support for recruitment efforts, including outreach connected to local schools and job fairs.