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Your support is making an impact! | |
Wildlands Brush Truck
is Going into Service
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Just in time for wildfire season! We are excited to announce the Type 6 Wildlands Brush Truck will be ready to put into service next week! None too soon. Our newspapers and televisions have been full of stories and images of wildfires raging – in our state and across the US. Bellevue Fire has already been dispatched a number of times to put out brush fires that, fortunately, were contained quickly.
Thank you, Amazon, Bruce McCaw Family Foundation, and the many donors who gave so generously. Your gifts allowed us to purchase the brush truck and equip it with the necessary tools and equipment. We are just $12,000 away from fully outfitting the truck. Donate now!
Fox13 Seattle featured Bellevue Fire and the brush truck - see it here: Dry, windy weather elevates fire risks in three Washington counties (fox13seattle.com)
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Brush Truck Dedication Ceremony is August 1st | |
Join us on Tuesday, August 1st at the "Downtown Movies in the Park". The movie is Hoodwinked, and it’s Military & First Responders Night! Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk.
The Brush Truck Dedication Ceremony will be a part of the pre-movie activities, you can see our city’s newest firefighting truck up close!
Bellevue Downtown Park
10201 NE 4th St., Bellevue, WA
Calling all Junior Firefighters!
Enter a coloring contest and win some great prizes, including participating in the dedication ceremony of the brush truck just before the movie!
Come to the Bellevue Fire Foundation tent to get your crayons and coloring paper. Test your safety knowledge and play the “Wheel of Misfortune” while you’re there!
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Save the Date - November 2, 2023
2nd Annual Breakfast with the Chief
7:00 am to 8:45 am at Bellevue Club
Interested in hosting a table or being a sponsor? Call 206-660-7174 or email [email protected]
Watch for more information coming soon!
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Funding Needs for Priority Projects
Chief Hagen and our firefighters give us much to be proud of – they are doing great work that has grown substantially in scope over the last few years. Since our recent formation, the Bellevue Fire Foundation’s priority has been to ensure they are well-equipped and ready to respond to our growing city’s increasing demands. We’ve accomplished a lot thanks to the many community members who have given their time and resources. Thank you!
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Personalized Swim Bags for
Water Rescue Technicians
The Bellevue Fire Department’s response area consists of 28 miles of shoreline, primarily along Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish. Water rescue calls are frequent and increasing each year with population growth. Firefighters are asked to enter an environment that is not meant for humans to enter – breathing underwater, moving efficiently underwater, seeing underwater, and having the insulation for their bodies to stay in the water for prolonged periods.
To save lives, our firefighters need the right equipment. Providing personalized swim bags ensures that we have properly sized equipment so that each swimmer can enter the water faster, operate more efficiently and swim with a higher degree of safety.
The remaining funding to meet this year’s need for swim gear is $15,000.
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Company Officer Leadership Academy (COLA)
When state funding was cut for leadership training, it left a big void in the department’s training program to develop its future leaders. On top of that, our growing and seasoned fire department is facing a wave of retirements in the coming years. To ensure the continued success of our fire department, Chief Hagen created the concept of a Company Officer Leadership Academy and developed a syllabus for the program, yet he doesn’t have a budget in which to develop and implement it.
The Foundation quickly agreed this fit in the “beyond the basics” requirements when considering grant awards. The program will prepare firefighters in their new officer role as a leader and supervisor and provide a comprehensive program that focuses on leadership development, tactical effectiveness, and cultural and diversity competency training.
We are grateful Amazon agreed! With Amazon’s gift of $50,000 toward the program, $12,000 remains to be raised for the startup cost.
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Thanks to the generous donations from our corporate sponsors and the citizens of Bellevue, we are close to providing the funding that our fire department needs to continue providing best-in-class safety to our city. Here’s how you can help us raise the additional $39,000 needed:
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Host or sponsor a table at our 2nd Annual Breakfast with the Chief on November 2nd at 7:30 am
- Host a friend gathering with a Bellevue Fire Foundation Board Member to learn more about how the fire department enhances our city’s safety on a daily basis
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Spread the word by sharing and liking our posts on Facebook
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Volunteer your time and/or talent. Call 206-660-7174 or [email protected] to learn more about volunteer opportunities
- Donate! Our current priorities are equipping the wildfire brush truck and water rescue technicians with personal swim gear, funding the COLA, and other mission-related activities. We are just $39,000 away from fully funding the current priorities.
Please donate by going to www.bellevuefirefoundation.org/donate
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Projects Funded by Bellevue Fire Foundation
A priority of the Foundation is keeping the men and women of the Bellevue Fire Department safe and healthy so they can go home to their families. Recent grants include a mental health app and ballistic gear.
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Mental Health App
Healing from a global pandemic, and in response to the alarming trend of an uptick in first responder suicide, the Bellevue Fire Department launched a mental health app donated by the Bellevue Fire Foundation. It normalizes and emphasizes the importance of mental wellness within their ranks. The tool is easily accessible on personal phones and computers providing direct access to peer support team members and valuable resources for coping with the challenges they face.
The app is available to all current and retired members of the Bellevue Fire Department, and their family members.
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Ballistic Gear
The first grant to the Bellevue Fire Department was for ballistic helmets and vests for firefighters and paramedics to keep them protected and safe. For safety considerations, the gear is regularly worn when responding to potentially volatile or chaotic scenes.
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An In-Kind Partnership - Thank You DoorDash!
Over $8,000 in meals and other essentials have been distributed to families facing hardships through Bellevue Fire’s CARES program and medical services units. In many cases, unforeseen circumstances have forced individuals and families into financial instability and food insecurity. When the need comes to the crew’s attention when responding to a call, the DoorDash donation ensures families are taken care of during a crisis through the on-demand DoorDash platform. Meals, groceries, and even essential items are provided.
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CARES was referred to a client who had just come out of a 4-month long coma. They had limited mobility and were discharged home with a wheelchair to use while waiting to start physical and occupational therapy. They were not able to prepare meals on their own initially, so CARES ordered them meals and groceries through DoorDash. CARES kept in frequent contact to monitor their wellbeing and connected them to community resources to support their recovery. They now have increased mobility and no longer need to use a wheelchair.“
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CARES - Community Advocates for Referral and Education Services: Bellevue Fire CARES identifies the source of the reason for a caller’s 911 call and connects them with resources that will address their core needs. Staffed by mental health professionals (MHPs), the CARES 101 unit may respond to a request for onsite assistance from a fire crew or police officers. This often results in an initial diversion from the ER or an arrest, and potentially leads to finding long-term solutions to the individual’s needs.
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Thank You, Amazon, for your tremendous support of our community and Firefighters! | | |
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Thank You Aegis Living Overlake Bellevue
Thank you for providing your beautiful facility for some special gatherings. We are grateful for your lovely and convenient residence!
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Bellevue Fire Department News | | |
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2023 Awards Ceremony
Honors Acts of Bravery, Heroism and Excellence
Our Bellevue Firefighters and Paramedics love their work and humbly serve our community. We are grateful to recognize them for their sacrifices in making our city safer and a better place to live, work and play. To the entire BFD team - job well done and thank you!
The Bellevue Fire Department’s brave and humble members were recently honored for amazing acts of heroics and excellence. It was an honor for Bellevue Fire Foundation board member, Nam Nguyen, to witness the honors being bestowed and to present one award among many presented - the Core Value Award for Exceptional Public Service.
| Congratulations Cheryl Vallejos, CARES Coordinator, Jeff Negrete, Firefighter, and Ron King, Fire Prevention Officer (with Chief Jay Hagen, Lt. Steve Sewerath, and BFF Board Member Nam Nguyen.) | | |
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Station No. 10
Groundbreaking Celebration
Construction of Bellevue Fire’s long-awaited downtown station is finally underway, it’s the first new station in 29 years! Located at NE 12th and 112th NE, it is scheduled to open in 2024. Fire Station 10 will make it easier for firefighters to respond quickly to fires and medical emergencies in Bellevue’s downtown "vertical neighborhoods" and in BelRed. The station’s crew is already in service and its new engine has arrived – don’t be surprised if you see Engine 10 (E110) on the streets responding soon!
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Thank you for your service Halbert family! | |
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All in the Family: Kids Join Dad as Bellevue Firefighters
Three generations of firefighters, the legacy continues at Bellevue Fire with the Halbert family. Battalion Chief Doug is assigned to training, Firefighter Emily is at Station 4, and Firefighter Sam is at Station 3. Thank you for your service to our community Halbert Family, we have no doubt Emily and Sam will fill their father’s big shoes just fine!
See the article in MyNorthwest.com
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