Benton County Fire District 4

The Governor has issued a proclamation that temporarily prohibits in-person contacts with the public that are required by the Open Public Meetings Act . As a result, Board of Fire Commissioner meetings will be conducted via conference call. Board meetings are held the 1 st and 3 rd Wednesdays of the month at 5:00 p.m. Community members can access the meetings by dialing 571-748-4021 and entering the pass code 977-1116. This method of holding public meetings is anticipated to be in effect until the proclamation expires on April 23, but could be continued if it is in the interest of public health and safety.

This is Acting Fire Chief Paul Carlyle with Benton County Fire District 4. We understand there is significant concern about the coronavirus, also known as “COVID-19.”   First, I want to reassure you that we have been responding to infectious diseases for a long time. This is not new to us. We have trained for pandemics, and we are ready to help you or a family member if you need us. It’s important that we work together to prevent the spread of this virus. Here are some things you can do to help during this time: ·         Avoid close contact with people who are sick. ·         Practice “social distancing” (i.e. avoid public gatherings of more than 10 people). If you must go out, keep 6-feet between you and other people. ·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. ·         Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. ·         Stay ho

Voters Will See Measure on August Primary Election Ballot The Board of Fire Commissioners for Benton County Fire District 4 passed a resolution calling for a Fire Levy lid lift to hire more emergency personnel. The measure will be on the August 4 Primary Election ballot. Call volumes have increased 78.3 percent for the Fire District since 2010 due to growth and an aging population that relies more on emergency services. The Fire District has a plan to meet this increase in demand for service in a way that minimizes impacts to taxpayers. For example, it asked the community to fund a new fire station, which was approved in 2018. Building and equipping a new station can take two or three years. The next step is to hire additional personnel to meet the increase in demand for service throughout the District. Finding the right people – interviewing, testing and background checks – can take almost a year and would need to be funded through a lid lift. If approved by voters, the

Benton County Fire District 4 is cancelling its annual Easter Egg Hunt that was to take place on April 11. The Fire District is following the guidelines for public events as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health due to the coronavirus, or “COVID-19.” Those guidelines recommend “social distancing” and gatherings of no more than 10 people. The Easter Egg Hunt can draw up to 1,000. Acting Chief Paul Carlyle said, “We realize many families will be disappointed, but we must act in the best interest of the health and safety of our community. The event will be back better than ever next year, and we look forward to hosting our community then.”

The Board of Fire Commissioners for Benton County Fire District 4 is holding a public hearing to discuss a resolution calling for a Fire Levy lid lift to hire more emergency personnel. If approved, voters could see the measure on the August 4 Primary Election ballot. The meeting will be Thursday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. at 2604 Bombing Range Road in West Richland (99353). Community members who are unable to attend the meeting, but would like to provide comment, are encouraged to contact Acting Chief Paul Carlyle. He can be reached at pcarlyle@bcfd4.org , or by mailing to the meeting address. All communication is welcome and becomes part of the public record. Call volumes have increased 78.3 percent for the Fire District since 2010 due to growth and an aging population that relies more on emergency services. The Fire District has a plan to meet this increase in demand for service in a way that minimizes impacts to taxpayers. For example, it asked the community to fund a ne

Our fire district has been receiving questions from citizens about the Coronavirus, specifically COVID-19. We want to assure you that we are ready to respond to any emergency, and this is no different. Your support means that we have experienced, highly-trained emergency personnel who are ready to help if needed. The most important thing that you can do is educate yourself and your family about what the COVID-19 is and how to prevent the spread of viruses in general. More information can be found through the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) or by contacting the Washington State Department of Health with questions at 1-800-525-0127. A general rule of thumb for any virus is to stay home if you are feeling unwell. Senior citizens, and those in our community with existing health conditions (such compromised immune systems, diabetes, COPD or other respiratory illnesses) are encouraged to contact their health practitioner for a phone consultation