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Washington Fire Dept takes record number of calls in '07 The Washington Fire Department had a busy year in 2007, with 479 calls of various types through the year. "This is the highest number of incidents we've ever had," said Fire Chief Alan Poss. The total of calls was far higher than 2006, when 363 calls were recorded. Poss said that the new policy of automatically assisting EMS on cardiac calls was largely responsible for the increase. The firedepartment assisted EMS with 119 calls, and responded to more than 70 motor vehicle accidents during the year, including 10 extrications of victims from vehicles. The department responded to 104 firecalls, including 12 building fires, 18 vehicle fires, and four heavy equipment fires. With the 100-year drought conditions throughout the county, forest, woodland, or brush and grass fires accounted for more than 40 calls. Hazardous conditions, including gas leaks, oil spills, and downed power lines, accounted for 30 calls, and the department stood by 16 times for medical flights at Wills Memorial Hospital. There were 36 false alarms of various types during the year, and 39 other times the call was cancelled in route. Total estimated firelosses for the year was $443,500, split between structure fires and heavy equipment fires. In 2006, Washington's ISO fireprotection rating was raised from a Class 4 to a Class 3, putting it in a class equal with most Atlanta suburbs, better than nearby cities like Thomson and far better than most other small cities.
"Less than one percent of the communities they surveyed had better fireprotection than we do here," Poss said. "This is a credit to our outstanding firefighters - paid and volunteer - and to the city and county leaders who support us."
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