Smoke Alarm Requests

It’s no news to you that smoke alarms save lives.  But do you have a working smoke alarm in your home?  If so, is it in proper working condition?  Is your current alarm past the manufacture’s date? We offer a free smoke alarm check and will come to your home to ensure your smoke detector is working, installed in the right location, and is ready to save your life in the event of a fire.

In partnership with Cook’s Ace Hardware and a grant from Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), West Benton Fire Rescue is able to offer free smoke alarms, including batteries and installation for the residents of West Benton Regional Fire Authorities jurisdiction.

Complete the Smoke Detector Program Request on the Forms page to request a free smoke alarm, which the firefighters will then install for you, for free. Then, contact us or call 509-786-3873 for further information and assistance.

Learn more about the importance of Smoke Alarms.

Knox Box Order and Installation

KNOX Rapid Entry Devices are Purchased by Property Owners – the Fire Department assists with Installation.

KNOX devices give emergency responders rapid entry into your property. The Fire District holds the one Knox Master Key to homes, community buildings, gated complexes and fenced properties with immediate access.

Order your Knox Box

What is a KNOX BOX system? It’s a high-security box system, designed to give firefighters and emergency services immediate access to locked buildings, elevators, and other secured areas.

Why install a KNOX BOX? Installation of a KNOX BOX on your property will not only allow firefighters faster access in case of an emergency, but will also prevent expensive forcible entry should emergency services be required while the premises are unoccupied. Costly front doors and entry ways needn’t be harmed if entry keys are available on-site!

How does the KNOX BOX system work? Following your purchase of a KNOX BOX from the factory, you will mount it securely on the exterior of your building. All necessary access keys will be locked inside by a representative of the fire department; only the fire department’s master key can open the box. The KNOX BOX gives the fire department a simple alternative to expensive, time-consuming forcible entry.

How secure is a KNOX BOX system? Security has always been a KNOX strong point. Designed for maximum protection, each virtually indestructible box features a special high-security Medeco lock and key. This Medeco restricted locking system guards against unauthorized key duplication. Keys aren’t even available to locksmiths or lock distributors–only The KNOX Company can supply these keys! The Knox Box system offers maximum security at every step.

Who can authorize a KNOX BOX system? Strict security control is maintained by allowing only fire departments to authorize the purchase of each Knox Box. An authorized fire department official, whose signature is on file at the factory, must approve the order. After verifying the signature, the Knox box is shipped directly to you. Each Knox Box is shipped without keys, locked in an open position and ready for mounting.

How is a KNOX BOX installed? Each KNOX BOX is shipped with complete mounting instructions; however, your fire department will assist you in choosing a proper location for mounting. After installation is completed, the fire department will conduct an inspection of the installation and lock building keys inside the box. As soon as building keys are locked inside the box, it is ready to provide immediate access to emergency personnel– 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Contact Us to work with you on the installation, as soon as you’ve received your Knox Box.

Car Seat Inspections

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of unintentional death among children in the United Sates (Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.) One CDC study found that, in one year, more than 618,000 children ages 0-12 rode in vehicles without the use of a child safety seat, booster seat or a seat belt at least some of the time. Of the children ages 12 years and younger who died in a crash in 2015 (for which restraint was known), 35% were not buckled up.

• When installed and used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save lives. Child safety seats can reduce the risk of death to infants (aged <1 year) by 71% and to toddlers (ages 1 to 4) by 54% in passenger vehicles.
• Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children aged 4-8 years when compared with seat belt use alone.
•  Child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. An estimated 46% of car and booster seats are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness.

Car Seat Inspections by WBFR – (Currently Not Offering)

West Benton Fire Rescue currently does not offer child safety seat inspections.  Whether you’ve just installed a car seat or need help installing or using one, get help at a car seat inspection station near you. Certified technicians will inspect your car seat free of charge, in most cases, and show you how to correctly install and use it. Some locations now offer virtual inspections.  Residents who are interested in having their child safety seats inspected by a certified passenger safety seat technician you can find a location here.

Car Seat Safety Information

Know the stages
Make sure children are properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height and weight.

Birth up to Age 2: Rear-facing car seat
For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

Age 2 up to at least Age 5: Forward-facing car seat
When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat, until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly: Booster seat
Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat, (by reaching the upper height or weight limit of their seat), they should be buckled in a belt positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Remember to keep children properly buckled in the back seat for the best possible protection.

Once Seat Belts Fit Properly without a Booster Seat: Seat Belt
Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). For the best possible protection keep children properly buckled in the back seat.

Install and Use Car & Booster Seats Properly
Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat’s owner’s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Seat Children in the Back Seat
Buckle all children aged 12 and under in the back seat.

Don’t Seat Children in Front of an Airbag
Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an air bag.

Seat Children in the Middle of the Back Seat
Buckle children in the middle of the back seat, when possible, because it is the safest spot in the vehicle.¹⁴

Use Proper Restraints Every Trip
Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip, no matter how short.

Parents and Caregivers: Always Wear a Seat Belt
Set a good example by always using a seat belt themselves.

Firefighters touring Milne, Inc. facilities

Site Visits

West Benton Fire Rescue conducts annual fire and life safety inspections of  commercial businesses throughout our service area. By identifying potential hazards in advance we are better able to keep citizens and first responders safe in the event of an emergency.

Please contact the West Benton Fire Rescue to setup a time to tour your facility.

Tier II Reporting Requirements – Chemical Inventory

In 1984, a release of deadly methyl isocyanate gas in Bhopal, India, resulted in the deaths of thousands of people living near a chemical plant. This incident emphasized the need for communities to be informed of hazardous materials in their midst and to plan for possible chemical emergencies.

In response, Congress passed Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) on Oct. 16, 1986. The fundamental purposes of the Act are to provide the public with information about toxic chemicals used and stored within communities, thereby raising public awareness of potential chemical hazards, encouraging local planning for chemical emergencies and providing emergency responders with facility specific chemical hazards.

Tier II is the second half of a chemical inventory reporting format that was created with a two-tier approach, Tier I and Tier II. Since this type of reporting was created, most all Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) and State Emergency Response Commissions (SERC) have required only the second half of the chemical reporting, Tier II.

Tier Two Reporting Requirements

Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 312, any facility in Washington that stores over a certain amount (reporting threshold) of a hazardous chemical must submit a Tier II report by March 1 for the previous reporting year, beginning January 1 and ending December 31. Send this report to:

• Washington State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
• Benton County Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
• Local Fire Department: Tier II reports can be mailed to West Benton County Fire Rescue’s office at 1200 Grant Ave, Prosser, WA 99350 or emailed to: Gayle Carrasco, Administrator gcarrasco@westbentonfirerescue.org

First Aid / CPR Classes

As a part of our mission to educate the public, West Benton Fire Rescue offers CPR and First Aid classes to individuals and groups within the Prosser area. Lives are lost daily nationwide from incidents involving heart attack, drowning, choking or electric shock. The steps taken to aid the victim seconds following such an incident can mean the difference between life and death.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the best training to have to try to help someone in an extreme situation when that person has stopped breathing. Learning this basic first-aid technique can help you give a friend, a loved one or a stranger a second chance for life.

Courses are now available 

West Benton Fire Rescue will now be holding First Aid / CPR classes.  

• This is a class offered to Prosser and Whitstran Residents.
• There are up to 20 seats available for each class, depending on instructor availability.
• This is a certified training, and you will receive a link by email to receive your card.
• For more information or to register, please call the office at (509) 786-3873 or email Captain Joshua Petroff at jpetroff@westbentonfirerescue.org

Course Description
This CPR course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult Hands-Only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR, and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.

Intended Audience 
This course is for Prosser and Whitstran residents and is ideal for community groups, employees needing certification for work, new parents, grandparents, babysitters, and others interested in learning how to save a life. This CPR course will be scheduled periodically throughout the year depending on demand and also available upon request to groups up to 20 students, depending on instructor availability. 

Attending Classes
There is a minimal fee for this course, and you do not need to bring anything. Everything you need will be provided.  There is a practical component to this course, so please wear comfortable clothing. Part of the practical portion will involve practicing compressions with a mannequin placed on the floor. If you are unable to practice compressions on the floor for any reason, we will be more than happy to make accommodations for you.

Course Length
This is a 4-hour class for CPR training only. The 1st Aid training is an additional 3–4-hours

Course Tuition
Please Contact the West Benton Fire Rescue for Class Fees. (This varies depending on class size)

Course Availability
Please contact Captain Josh Petroff at our department to schedule a class. jpetroff@westbentonfirerescue.org

What is a Fire and Life Safety Inspection?

Fire and Life Safety Inspections are required by International Fire Code to occur at Public
Businesses no less than once per year. Some businesses, which have more dangers involved
in their day-to-day business processes are required to have more frequent Inspections such as
high volume cooking, hazardous materials or other dangerous processes.

These inspections are done to ensure both patrons and employees are not exposed to
unnecessary hazards.

Why does City of Prosser provide all Fire and Life Safety inspections in the City of Prosser?
When West Benton Fire Rescue was formed on January 1, 2015, we could no longer provide a
service to City residents that we do not provide to the county residents. The Benton County
Fire Marshal provides those inspections in the unincorporated areas of our Fire District, and we
could not continue to provide the service at no charge to the businesses in the City.
Instead of contracting with West Benton Fire Rescue to provide Fire and Life Safety inspections
within the City of Prosser, City management chose to utilize their code enforcement staff and
have them certified to perform these inspections.

Though the City of Prosser is the authority having jurisdiction for all fire code issues within the
City limits, our staff is always available to provide City code enforcement officials with our
knowledge and expertise in all things public safety related.

What about a Fire and Life Safety Inspection for my home?

Home Fire Safety is at the top of our public safety priority list. Above all, we want you and your
family to be safe should there be a fire related incident at your home.

Provided you live in the West Benton Fire Rescue response area, we will schedule you for a site visit to discuss things like:

• Home fire prevention and safety tips
• Smoke Detector type or placement
• Evacuation plans and drills

Please contact us with any questions you may have, or request a home fire and life
safety inspection.