Firefighters are the people you want to see during times of an emergency, but they say it's taking longer to get to them. KIMA found out how their response times compare over the past few years, and why they may be up.
The sound of sirens couldn't come sooner in times of an emergency, but YFD reports its response times have been slower over the past few years.
"We're dealing with a human element and we're also dealing with a technology element," said Yakima Fire Chief Bob Stewart.
Firefighters have new safety measures put in place by the state along with new equipment. It calls for about an extra minute before leaving the station to make sure seat belts are secured and the necessary equipment is there.
"We want to make sure we're part of the solution and not part of the problem," said Chief Stewart.
So far this year, YFD is averaging at a five minute and 34 second response time. That compares to five minutes and 21 seconds last year, and five minutes and six seconds the year before.
"Even if our best is five minutes and 21 seconds, we're doing a good job for the community."
Chief Stewart says they used to aim for an average of four minutes, but that's no longer realistic.
"What I would like to do is set a realistic number and have us beat that realistic number each and every time rather than exceed it," said the Chief. "I don't want to set some artificiality that we can't achieve and then it looks like we have no victories and we're not delivering timely quality care, which we absolutely are today."
He plans on networking with similar-sized fire departments around the state to see how they compare in response times. The Chief noted how the city of Yakima has also extended its boundaries in the past years, plus they've already gotten more calls this year than all of last year.
"We really have a focus on safety and that communication aspect, and it goes all the way through our organization."