At the last meeting of the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners Jan. 14, Chief Wayne Senter presented his district’s annual report for 2009, which showed an 8-percent decrease in total calls.

In 2008, SKFR responded to 9,043 calls, which was a slight increase — .97 percent — from the previous year. In 2009, the district responded to 8,298 calls, which amounts to a 8.24 percent decrease from last year.

However, the amount of total fire loss increased, totaling $2,625,476 in 2009, nearly $600,000 more than 2008’s total of $2,097,314.

The significant incidents SKFR responded to last year included: an overturned kayaker, multiple vehicle collisions due to significant snow fall, a boat fire at Sinclair Inlet Marina, a fully involved fire at McCormick Woods maintenance facility, a child’s drowning, and a fire at Arnold’s Furniture store in Bremerton.

The stations with the most calls were Station 8 on Fircrest Drive with 2,476 and Station 31 on Tremont Street with 1,927. Of the five remaining staffed stations, Station 16 in Gorst received 967, Station 11 on Bethel Road received 882, Station 14 on Bethel-Burley Road received 803, Station 10 on Banner Road received 605, and Station 17 on McCormick Woods Drive received 502 calls.

SKFR also answered 106 requests for mutual aid from other districts.

Other significant events marking SKFR’s year included passage of an Emergency Medical Services Levy in May with 72 percent of the vote. The district intends to use the funds generated to hire additional personnel and staff Station 9 in Manchester, currently a volunteer station.

So far, SKFR hired 13 firefighters, 12 for new positions. Of the 12 new staff members, 10 are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and two are paramedics.

The additional staff increased SKFR’s total number of shift employees from 72 to 84, and increased its minimum staffing from 17 to 19. When the new members are trained and ready to respond, they will be used to staff Station 9 in Manchester.

In late summer, SKFR acquired a new ladder truck — a 100-foot aerial Quint — following a 12-month design and build. The purchase was made in large part due to a $520,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant(AFG) SKFR received.

The vehicle was on display at Port Orchard Church of Christ’s “Celebrate Jesus” event, where SKFR staff collected $2,603 in donations for its Chaplain fund account. The Quint will replace the aging ladder truck currently at Station 31.

Late last year, SKFR was the last county fire agency to have Mobile Computer Terminals (MCTs) installed in its response units. The new tools were provided as part of a regional Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant.

Senter said the technology will allow staff members to be dispatched based on how close their vehicle is to an incident — via Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) — and not necessarily how close their station is. Also, they will reduce radio traffic, have active onboard mapping and hydrant information.