Will Valley mutual aid policies hold up amid new firefighting agreements?
By Eric Valentine
Photo credit: Sun Valley Fire Department
An early morning residential structure fire just outside of Ketchum Fire Department’s jurisdiction may be the first test for the fledgling fire services contract between the City of Sun Valley and Ketchum Rural Fire District. The contract that began Oct. 1—ending a decades-long agreement with Ketchum city and Ketchum rural first responders—was tested in the early hours of Nov. 1 when Sun Valley and rural district firefighters responded to the report of smoke filling the residence at 134 Canyon Drive.
What’s known is that the blaze was under control in just over an hour and occupants of the home were safely out of the house. What’s up for debate is whether the Ketchum Fire Department should have stood down. Ketchum fire crews were called to the scene but never arrived in full force and the Ketchum ambulance that was sent did not get there until well into the incident, Sun Valley Fire Chief Taan Robrahn confirmed.
“The crews that were there did a great job and made a great save of a structure, confining damage to a portion of the house,” Robrahn said.
Ketchum leadership indicated its first response actions were normal according to longstanding mutual aid agreements.
“It’s not atypical to have one of the departments stand down in a situation like this,” Ketchum Assistant City Administrator Lisa Enourato said. As of press deadline Tuesday, Enourato was still acquiring information about the response, but said the interim fire chief and one other firefighter from Ketchum were both on scene.
“We have mutual aid agreements,” added Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “We’re not going to let anyone in the community be put at risk.”
Robrahn confirmed no one was put at immediate risk, but acknowledged that incidence response still needs some ironing out going forward.
“We like to have an ambulance there as early as possible, even when occupants are safe, because firefighting is risky and it’s good to have medical support on scene not just for victims but for crews, too,” Robrahn explained.
Response Rundown
The first units arrived on scene within 10 minutes and found flames showing from the roof around a chimney pipe. The initial crews insured all occupants were out of the house and initiated an interior fire attack. Additional crews performed water supply, salvage and overhaul, safety and support functions.
“Those roof fires can be tricky and our crews got in there and got it under control relatively quickly,” Robrahn said.
The fire was called in at 5:45 a.m. and was declared under control at 7:02 a.m.
A total of 18 firefighters responded with two engines, two tenders, one ladder truck, one ambulance and three command officers. Damage is initially estimated at $250,000 to the structure and contents.
