Giving VIFR the resources it needs to protect us all

Response times are critical when your loved ones need emergency medical care, or your home is on fire. Trust me. I know.

On November 25, 2022, my daughter and I lost our home to a fire that began outside our garage where we were running our generator after having lost power.

Within 15 minutes, the garage was fully engulfed and the trees were ablaze. The fire moved quickly into the kitchen and dining room and throughout the first floor.

First on the scene was Fire Chief Matt Vinci, who happened to live in the neighborhood. It took 20 minutes for enough staff, including volunteers to arrive so the firefight could begin in earnest. By then the fire was fully involved.

I watched as brave firefighters donned their protective gear, weighing more than 70 pounds per kit, (protective coats and pants), and quickly went to work. Heavy fire hoses had to be dragged up the hill from where the main hydrant was located. For hours, I witnessed these members of my community risk their lives as they fought the blaze and tried to save my home.

It became clear to me at one point that this was not a fire of inconvenience but that this was catastrophic and all we had was lost, including our beautiful kitty, Lila.

When the fire was finally out and the responders were preparing to leave, every single one of them approached me, some with tears in their eyes, to apologize for my loss. They, who risked their lives trying to save my home, apologized to me.

Later that evening, the fire ignited again but this time there were fewer firefighters available to help fight the blaze because there was not enough protective gear available. The protective coats and pants worn by the firefighters earlier in the day were being cleaned and prepared for future use and our department only has so many to go around.

I don’t know for a fact that my house would have sustained less damage should we have lived in West Seattle, but I am sure we would have had a more robust initial response. And when the fire ignited again, we would have had more gear available for firefighters to participate in putting it out.

We are all at risk. We live on an island roughly the size of Manhattan and we have one active station house that is understaffed and works with aging equipment. This is well known by the state’s fire risk rating board.

The levy will replace aging fire trucks and ambulances and will provide funds to purchase the lifesaving equipment our firefighters need and deserve, to do the jobs all of us depend on them to do. If the levy passes, many will save far more dollars on fire insurance than they will have to pay for the renewed VIFR levy tax rate.

If the levy passes, the Burton fire station can be staffed which will improve response times. Response times are critical when your loved ones need emergency medical care, or your home is on fire. Trust me. I know.

We are vulnerable as an island community without a hospital. We must ensure that our fire district and emergency response team have the staffing and resources to protect us when we need them.

On a personal note, I want to thank VIFR for everything they have done for me and my family over the years.

Thank you for coming to my house twice, back in 2007, when I was having an appendicitis attack. Thank you for embracing my son, and guiding him through the rigorous training offered by the VIFR Explorers Program. Thank you for risking your lives last November trying to save my home. On behalf of myself and my family, thank you.

Vote yes on Proposition 1.

— Kim Cronin, who has lived on Vashon for many years, works for the King County Department of Public Defense.