Friday, March 29, 2024

Fourth of July week keeps CFR busy, Lt. Woods retires

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CHELAN - After 10 years of service in Chelan, Lieutenant Evan Woods retired from Chelan Fire and Rescue (CFR) on July 6. Deputy Fire Chief Mark Donnell mentioned during the July 17 commissioner meeting, that seven candidates put in their applications to replace Lt. Woods. However, only six moved on to the panel interviews, due to one not passing the written test.

“After the panel interviews we were able to rank those folks from one to six,” said Donnell. Beginning the first week of August, CFR Fire Chief Tim Lemon, Deputy Chief Donnell and Assisant Fire Chief Brandon Asher, will be interviewing the candidates and will be making a decision. “We are trying to have someone on board by September 1,” Donnell stated. That evening after the meeting,a retirement barbecue was held at Station 71 to honor Lt. Woods.

Donnell added that CFR has six new rescue swimmers, after they completed the course last July 14. Under the guidance of Lt. Shawn Sherman, rescue swimmer program manager, and another three program assistants, the six participants were able to learn different rescue techniques. CFR’s rescue boat, Marine 71, was also on water during the training.

 “I have to say that it is pretty impressive the endurance the swimmers need to have, they spend a lot of time in the water,” said Fire Commissioner Russ Jones.

At the moment, CFR is looking for people who are capable of operating the rescue boat. Jones mentioned that other than that everything is set and ready to go. Commissioner Phil Moller brought up the idea of adding lights to the rescue boat. Jones added that perhaps a siren could also be installed. Fleet manager John Goyne said he will look into it and install lights and a siren that follow the code.

Chief Lemon gave a quick summary of Fourth of July week activities. In total CFR responded to 46 calls that week. Out of those calls 31 were for medical aid, one water rescue and three vehicle accidents. “On the fire side of things, we actually did fairly well. Only one brush fire and five others outside of fire events,” reported Lemon to the commissioners.
 

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