Chelan Fire seeks grants, prepares for summer fire season

CHELAN – Chelan Fire and Rescue (CFR) was not called out for a single water call over the Memorial Day weekend, an unusually quiet time for the department that is unaccustomed to a no-incident holiday on the popular lake. That was part of the report by Chief Brandon Asher to the Chelan Fire Board of Commissioners at their meeting on May 28.

“We had seven brush fire responses through the month of April,” said Asher, who noted that the countywide burn ban is effective on Sunday, June 1. Wildland fire is a primary CFR concern as the season moves into the hot summer months.

Bill Slosson, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshall, advised CFR that two retardant planes are online and available at Moses Lake.

Seeks grant funds

Asher said CFR received a $25,000 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) grant through the DNR and has applied for a $100,000 Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG). The CWDG funds a seasonal coordinator and six seasonal positions, as well as equipment, for a period of five years. The $1 billion competitive grant program launched in 2022 is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

CFR also received a $4,472 donation from Windemere for its shredding event.

Trapped in vehicle call

Asher said he is working with RiverCom and other fire chiefs regarding callouts for head-on vehicle collisions where response crews need extra help to remove trapped victims.

“Right now, RiverCom does not have a call nature for Injury Accident Entrapment,” said Asher. “I proposed - and it was received well by the county chiefs and by RiverCom – that we are going to create a new call for those accidents on Highway 97-97A where we need to dispatch more help.”

Asher delivered the oath of office to Chad Cohen, CFR’s newest recruit, during the commissioners’ meeting.

CFR recently acquired a second fire boat, Number 72, from another department. It is being retrofitted and will soon be on the lake, serving as the department’s primary firefighting boat. One option being considered is sharing the new boat with the Manson FD and parking it there.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media