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Olympia fire chiefs present data-driven 'Standards of Cover'; council hears station gaps and options
Summary
At a March 10 study session, the Olympia Fire Department presented a final draft Standards of Cover and community risk assessment, citing response-time gaps (notably Station 2 and Station 3), reviewing a January apartment fire with $800,000 loss, and urging options including digital alerting, added staffing or station siting; Chief Matt Morris said this is his final week with the city.
Fire Chief Matt Morris presented the Olympia Fire Department’s final draft Standards of Cover at a City Council study session on March 10, saying the data-driven plan lays out current performance, equity gaps and pathways to improve response across the city.
The Standards of Cover, developed over roughly 18 months, compiles a comprehensive risk analysis and performance metrics by the department’s four station-planning districts and ties those findings to national benchmarks such as NFPA 1710, Morris said. “This is my last meeting. Next week is my final week with the city,” Morris told the council as he closed his remarks.
Why it matters: The Standards of Cover translates response-time goals and staffing requirements into concrete investment choices: digital station alerting, added medic or BLS units, extra firefighters on engines or new station siting. City officials said these choices have both safety and budget implications, including potential impacts on the city’s WSRB insurance rating.
Deputy Chief Hillary Flowers walked the…
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