Representatives from the City of Mountlake Terrace including Mayor Jerry Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Sonmore, City Manager John Caulfield and Snohomish County Fire District #1 recently met for an annual review of fire and emergency medical services (EMS).

Specifically, the report showed how the District met their 2010 objective of arriving within 8 minutes on 91.4% of calls, exceeding the 90 percent standard outlined in the interlocal agreement. Average response time for all calls was 5.40 minutes. The response time is calculated as the time the SNOCOM dispatch center receives a 911 call and not when the unit leaves the station, which is a much higher standard. The response time stops when a fire and/or EMS unit first arrives on site.

Overall, calls for fire and emergency medical services increased slightly in 2010 from 2009 (9 calls or 0.4%). Fire calls, which comprise 22% of total calls, increased by 6.7% or 30 more calls in 2010 versus 2009. EMS calls, which comprise 78% of total calls, decreased by 1.2% or 21 fewer calls for service in 2010 than in 2009.

Each year the Fire District provides a report detailing the Fire District’s performance measures as well as the services the Mountlake Terrace community receives. The 2010 report showed that the Fire District continues to meet the conditions and obligations as outlined in the contract approved in 2004.