Fire commissioner reports increased call volume and $130,000 brush-truck grants; council discusses preparedness

Tim Floss, representing Fire District 3, briefed the City of Medical Lake Council on May 19 about public-safety operations and regional wildfire preparedness.

Floss said April call volume was about 9% higher than the prior April and that acuity of calls is increasing. He announced two grants from the U.S. Forest Service to acquire two Type-6 brush trucks, each estimated at roughly $130,000; staff will outfit and paint the vehicles and add wildland shelters and medical supplies before placing them in service. Floss said the apparatus committee and the chief will determine placement and staffing once outfitting is complete.

He also reported two CPR community classes trained 56 residents and seven firefighter instructors, and that the district hired four seasonal firefighters to staff an additional engine seven days a week beginning June 16 to improve response times for wildland incidents.

Council asked about retrofit cost estimates (roughly $30,000 per truck for decals, equipment and stocking) and timeline (vehicles recently received; outfitting underway). Floss noted regional coordination with DNR and discussions with state legislators about aviation funding and other wildfire-response resources.

Council members encouraged continued public outreach on classes and regional coordination; the mayor and staff promoted an Office of the Insurance Commissioner outreach event scheduled at city hall the following evening to discuss insurance and disaster recovery.