Colfax fire crews respond to 4 calls outside city limits

City fire crews responded to four calls outside of city limits in the last month, according to a report given to the city council at its Aug. 16 meeting.

Lt. Tim Tingley told the council four calls were answered by city crews outside of the confines of the city. One of those was a mutual aid call, while firefighters were dispatched to incident locations that turned out to be just outside city limits on the other three.

Councilman Jeremiah Roberts requested the report. He and council member David Nails noted city policy mandates fire trucks stay inside the city limits unless called to help another department.

City Administrator Carl Thompson told the council firefighters have to make judgment calls when responding

Roberts said the city could be held liable if it violates the policy by responding to calls outside the city. He said members of the council’s public safety committee have been looking at changing the policy.

Tingley said crews were dispatched to the Corner Chevron on two of the three aid calls. The incidents were then found to be west of the city limits on Highway 26. The third was called in from Les Schwab and turned out to be further west outside the city limits.

At Monday’s meeting council member Jeannette Solimine asked if the problem could be a lack of knowledge of Colfax city limits from dispatchers at the Whitcom center in Pullman. She asked if having them come take an on-the-ground tour of Colfax would clear up the situation.

Tingley said the mistaken addresses were likely caused by faulty locators on automotive GPS units.