Population boom prompts fire levy

HAYDEN — A 28 percent increase in population over the past decade has spurred an increase in calls for medical assistance and firefighting in the Northern Lakes Fire District.

The district’s staff experienced 1,100 instances last year when its two active units were already deployed to calls and had to outsource additional calls for assistance to nearby agencies, said Fire District Chief Pat Riley, on Monday.

A $1.2 million permanent override levy that fire district voters are being asked to approve at the polls on May 15 would allow the department to hire nine new firefighter paramedics, and to keep an on-duty crew ready to roll at Station 3 on East Hudlow Road in the fire district’s northeast reaches, he explained. At present the station has no on-duty firefighters.

Northern Lakes Fire District last floated the idea of a permanent override levy in 2012, when in May and November of that year voters soundly rejected a $1.6 million ballot question.

Riley said the district has pared down its list of must-haves to include only as much as would be necessary to hire nine already-qualified firefighters. They’ll take firefighters with EMT certifications, but advertise their preference for those with paramedic certifications.

It takes two years to get a firefighter to paramedic status, so by seeking applicants with current certifications, the district will save the money it would take to train them, he explained.

The May 15 levy amount would not pay for buildings or additional equipment.

Northern Lakes currently receives $4,895,300 in annual levies, said deputy fire marshal Jim Lyon.

National Fire Protection Association standards call for one firefighter per 1,000 residents. On a typical day and with a full staff, Northern Lakes currently has only one firefighter per 3,500-5,000 residents, said Riley. When units are not on another call, Riley said his crews respond to calls within the first five minutes around 90 percent of the time. By adding an on-duty crew to Station 3, the Northern Lakes district can be more responsive to calls in that portion of the fire district, said the chief.

Additionally, by adding more firefighters who can respond to calls, the ones currently on staff will have more opportunity to complete their mandatory training.

“It is very difficult for our companies with the call volume they have to complete the minimum amount of training they have in a given day or month,” Riley said.

Recently ratings for homes in the Northern Lakes Fire District went the wrong way due to a change in how they are calculated, he said. Insurance ratings for the fire district would improve if the district could place an on-duty crew at Station 3, he added.

Riley said, regardless of the May 15 levy result, “We will continue to do business as best we can, managing the increase in population and the responses we have.”

The chief invited questions from the public via email at admin@northernlakesfire.com or by phone at 208-772-5711. To learn more, go to www.northernlakesfire.com.