When we heard an odd, constant snapping sound outside our house just before dawn on April 24, we first assumed it was rain. Then we realized the snaps were actually crackles: Our shop, full of sentimental, irreplaceable items — and more terrifyingly, just 300 feet from where we slept — was going up in flames.
Early-bird commuters saw the blaze from Interstate 5 and called 911. Within minutes, Riverside Fire Authority trucks were winding their way up our driveway. (Our area’s fire department merger helps make such swift response times possible. We’d love to see Chehalis, where we’ve done business for decades, finally go through with a merger of its own.)
The firefighters who came to our aid that morning worked with a hustle, expertise and professionalism that’s increasingly hard to come by these days. The shop couldn’t be saved, but no one was hurt, the fire didn’t reach our home and we couldn’t have felt safer knowing that these men and women are on our side when an emergency strikes.
This August, we have a chance to be on their side, too. Riverside Fire Authority has asked voters to lift the levy lid so they can keep up with increased demand and costs.
We urge you to approve the change.
Like many of our neighbors in Lewis County, we’re not eager to support tax increases. Part of that has to do with our doubt that the money will be spent wisely. But in this case, we can’t imagine a wiser reason to spend a little extra — for most of us, no more than a couple days’ worth of coffee each month. In exchange, we’ll get a fire department that’s better staffed, better trained and healthier.
For everything they do to keep us safe, firefighters take on a higher risk of developing cancer and heart disease. Some of the funds will go toward comprehensive health screenings to catch problems as they arise.
It’s easy to scoff at spending your hard-earned money on emergency services, which, by their very nature, most people don’t frequently need — until something happens to you.
In 2023, the Riverside Fire Authority responded to almost 5,000 incidents. They went to provide emergency medical services at 75% of them. Sixty-nine buildings went up in flames. Those numbers don’t feel so distant when you’re on the list.
It’s easy to forget just how big a role these first responders play in our community. When a grandmother falls down in her home, they help her up. When a father has a heart attack, they save his life. When a mother goes into labor and it’s too late to make it to the hospital, they deliver her baby. When we’re in the middle of our most terrifying moments, they’re just a phone call away.
Nothing about what Riverside Fire Authority does is easy. When we need them, they help us without hesitation. Let’s return the favor and approve the funding they need.
Rich and Lynda Lennox
Centralia
