Councilmembers walk in firefighters' boots

Olympia City Council members Joe Hyer and Rhenda Strub walked into a burning building and a climbed a 100-foot ladder Friday.

Each got a taste of what it is like to be a firefighter Friday during a special fire operations training in Richland, about 250 miles east of Olympia. Capt. Ricky Walsh of the Richland Fire Department said they were among 35 public officials from Washington, Idaho and Montana who gathered at the HAMMER Training Facility at the federal Hanford site for a day of walking a mile in firefighters' boots.

"I am just amazed that there are people who actually want to do this job," Strub said. "They do it every day. It is so hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, and they do it every day. I'm just stunned."

The event was organized by the International Association of Firefighters, a firefighters union, to give public officials a taste of the challenges that firefighters face.

"It's just kind of an insight that they are kind of our boss, but they don't really know what we do," said Mike Simmons, president of Olympia Firefighters Local 468.

The officials went through five simulated scenarios:

• Using the extrication device to remove someone from a wrecked vehicle

• Search and rescue in a smoky building

• A medical response to someone having a heart attack

• Climbing a 100-foot ladder, then using a chain saw to cut a hole in the roof

• Fighting a fire, 800 to 1,000 degrees, while hauling hoses

"Basically, we were blind," Councilman Hyer said of the rescue simulation. "You've got your mask on and your air tank, but it's incredibly smoky and dark."

Hyer said he got to use breathing gear he approved as a councilman, and as a result, he has a better appreciation for what it is and how it works.

That's what the organizers were going for.

"It's our hope that once they go through that, they have a better understanding for the need for manpower," said Walsh, who is the vice president for the International Association of Firefighters 7th District, which includes Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

"The work ... of a firefighter is, you know, time-critical, manpower-intensive and highly technical work that requires people," Walsh said. "So that's really what it's all about out here."

Fire staffing is a timely subject in Olympia. Residents will vote in August on whether to raise their taxes to pay for a fourth fire station, fire training center and equipment. If voters approve the levy, the owner of a $250,000 house will pay an extra $53.55 in taxes yearly for the next 20 years.

But council members are unsure how they will pay to staff the station, which might require asking voters for another tax increase. The council is expected to decide next month, and voters could vote on another measure in August.

Olympia Fire Chief Larry Dibble said the city was paying for the officials' visit, which cost $250 per person, plus hotel stay and incidental expenses.

"My knees are aching, my back is aching, but it certainly is a good day," Hyer said.

Matt Batcheldor covers the city of Olympia for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-704-6869 or mbatcheldor@theolympian.com.