EMS levy dollars at work at CCFD 3

During the Columbia County Fire District Three open house on Sunday EMT Darvin Parvinen demonstrated Lucas, the new mechanical chest compression machine, which was purchased with EMS levy funds. Lucas attaches directly to the patient and provides uninterrupted, steady compressions while en route to the hospital, Parvinen said.

He said before purchasing Lucas it took seven to eight EMTs to provide chest compressions on patients during a forty-five minute run to the hospital. With the help of Lucas it only takes two or three EMTs to provide patient care during the same time frame.

EMS levy funds also allowed the District to purchase two new hydraulic-operated gurneys, at a cost of $40,000 each.

Chief Jeromy Phinney said the new gurneys won't require as much manpower to use and they will help alleviate back injuries. The gurneys are rated for 700 pounds of weight, he said.

Additionally, the District has been able to hire two more full time EMTs, and another EMT will be hired.

Phinney said the District was able to move a structure truck to the Turner Fire Station which will help with better fire protection, and better insurance rates, in that area. This was accomplished when the District purchased a surplus truck from Cowlitz County. The truck cost a mere $2000 and was retrofitted with $10,000 in additional equipment, he said.

The District also obtained a 2008 Texas state fire department truck with only $5,000 miles on it for only $25,000. They also received a bulldozer, which had been passed down to Walla Walla, from Benton County.

Phinney said getting quality used equipment is a bonus for small departments like theirs.

He said the fire department is grateful to the voters for passing the levy in 2018.

The purpose of the levy was to address maintenance and stabilization of the emergency medical system, to establish funds for staffing and training, to meet growing demands for coverage and to help with the costs of replacing aging equipment.

The levy adds 50 cents per $1,000 assessed value to county property tax rates, beginning in 2019, and was projected to raise $458,794 for Fire Districts 1, 2, and 3, and the Town of Starbuck. It is a permanent levy and it cannot be increased more than one percent each year.