EPHRATA — The Ephrata Fire Department experienced a busy year in 2025, responding to a total of 513 calls for service. Fire Chief Jeremy Burns provided an overview of these calls, revealing that approximately 65% were related to Emergency Medical Services, while only 10% were actual fire calls. The remaining 25% fell into various categories such as fire alarms, elevator rescues and hazardous conditions.

“The bulk of our responses still falls right in that close to 70% category of EMS calls, which is where we’ve been training for years,” Burns said.

In comparison to previous years, Burns indicated that call volume saw a slight increase.

The department previously contracted with American Medical Response ambulance services, during which their call load averaged around 550 calls. After switching to Lifeline ambulance services in July 2023, Ephrata witnessed a reduction of almost 100 calls for service, primarily due to differences in the types of calls each service handled.

“Lifeline still takes a fair amount of inter-facility transport, but they weren’t doing so many out-of-area transport,” he said.

Double blaze

One of the most significant incidents this year involved a wildland fire that spread to a multi-home structure fire at the beginning of September 2025. The fire started as a brush fire along the roadway and ultimately damaged six homes, destroying one completely. Burns described this incident as particularly intense.

“I would say that was a lot more pressure than we usually deal with … it was just a very encompassing event,” he said. “We were dealing with two fires at once. You respond to a brush fire differently than a house fire and we had to handle both.”

The response not only involved Ephrata FD but also relied on a collaborative effort with neighboring districts, including Grant County Fire District 13 and Grant County Fire District 7. He said there were nearly 30 firefighters handling the blaze.

“It was overwhelming at first,” Burns said. “But we got it handled.’

Burns said it was handled with the strong teamwork of local firefighters.

“We spent a lot of the evening back here at the fire station, and I think we got home after 9:30 at night. After putting equipment back together,” Burns said.

New equipment

In terms of upgrades, the Ephrata Fire Department welcomed a new fire truck, scheduled for delivery in early 2026.

Funded through nearly $800,000 of American Rescue Plan Act allocations, this truck has been in development since late 2023, with it initially slated to be complete in November 2025. However, there were slight delays and Burns will be traveling next week to do final sign-offs on the new equipment. He said it features enhanced capabilities, including a more powerful engine and advanced technology.

The department also upgraded its reporting platform, which came with a handful of learning pains, Burns said.

“When I started this job 24 years ago, all of our documentation was on paper and then we filed it in file boxes,” Burns said. “Today, it’s all cloud-based incident reporting software for us. It’s digital-based, so that means we won’t lose files. It’s also web-based, which means I can log in from anywhere.”

The new program allows for a more advanced report, including times when a call is opened, when the agency responds, when the agency leaves for the hospital and arrives, and when the case is closed. It also allows the department to catalog all of the equipment it has.

Volunteers

Volunteerism remains a cornerstone of the Ephrata Fire Department’s operations, Burns said. EFD boasted 35 volunteer firefighters at the beginning of 2025.

Burns said he was optimistic about volunteer recruitment. He said across the nation, there is a trend of fewer people volunteering; however, this is not a struggle he has to deal with.

“We’re excited to welcome new recruits and see our numbers gradually increase,” he said.

Alongside this, the Ephrata Fire Department was recognized for the first time as the 2025 “Volunteer Fire House of the Year” by the Washington State Firefighters Association.

“The recognition from the Washington State Firefighters Association at the end of May as the volunteer firehouse of the year is just one for the ages, for our agency,” Burns said. “We’ve been blessed throughout many years by the Ephrata Fire Department to have a group of dedicated volunteer firefighters. But being recognized by the Washington Firefighters Association for that was just really the feather in the cap.”

EMS funding challenges

Burns said funding for EMS services is a significant concern.

Currently, he said, the costs for EMS operations, which total over $100,000 annually, are sourced from the city’s General Fund. However, with growing demands on EMS from the aging population in the community, Burns said there is a need for a comprehensive funding review scheduled for 2026.

“Our goal is to create a community group to explore ways to fund EMS operations moving forward,” he said. “We want it to be community members of all ages, a diverse group of people to figure out what is best for our community going forward.”

Burns said the Ephrata City Council will likely begin reviewing information from the community group in September 2026, before budgeting season starts. He said there are three options moving forward: continue paying for EMS through the General Fund, propose an EMS levy to voters, or establish an EMS utility with the council. Burns said he is unsure which direction the city and department will take.

As the Ephrata Fire Department continues to adapt to changing needs and demands, Burns said he remains committed to maintaining a high standard of service, emphasizing the collaboration that is vital in handling emergencies.

“It’s not just a fire department; we are a fire and EMS department, and we must ensure our community is well-supported,” he said.

    The Washington State Firefighters Association awarded the Ephrata Fire Department the “Volunteer Fire House of the Year” for 2025. Retired Chief Don Fortier presented the award. From left to right are volunteers Emily Grace, Logan Anderson, Jake Wezenberg and Nigel McNeill, Fortier, Fire Chief Jeremy Burns, and volunteers Colleen Winski and Darren St. Clair.
  

    Nayelli Lopez, 15, was honored as the Ephrata Fire Department Chief for a Day in 2025. Ephrata Fire Department Chief Jeremy Burns, said community outreach such as Chief for Day, “Touch a Truck” and the Autism Walk are important to the department.