WEST RICHLAND, Wash. – Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response times in West Richland have improved significantly since the reopening of Benton County Fire District 4’s Station 410 last June. The station’s return has reduced response times by over one minute, a crucial improvement for medical emergencies.
Deputy Chief Dan Drayton of Benton County Fire District 4 highlighted the significance of the station’s reopening. “Adding a third station gives us a big safety net,” he said.
The reduced response time means that 90% of the time, EMS arrives at calls at least a minute faster than before the station reopened. Drayton explained, “Shaving a minute off helps us keep fire, hopefully, to the either object of origin or to the room of origin.”
Station 410 not only improves response times but also decreases reliance on neighboring stations. This keeps first responders ready to react in their designated areas. Drayton noted that previously, overlapping calls left the district uncovered. Now, with a third station, the community has “tactical redundancy.”
Currently, all three stations are fully operational. However, staffing remains a concern, especially during fire season. “It draws us below our minimum staffing level,” said Drayton about staff shortages due to sickness, vacations, or deployments.
To address this, the fire district is considering budgeting for additional positions. Drayton emphasized the need for continuous staffing without closing stations due to shortages. “What we want to do is to continue to budget for additional positions,” he said.
Although nothing has been finalized, a levy lift lid for additional staff is under consideration. Drayton encouraged public involvement, saying, “We encourage the public to come and be involved.”
For those interested in learning more about emergency services in West Richland, Benton County Fire District 4 holds commission meetings on the first and third Thursday of each month.
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