The numbers in Kent tell the story about the impact of January’s snow and ice storms.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 453<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n That’s the record number of calls the Kent Fire Department responded to on Thursday, Jan. 19 when the ice storm hit. Firefighters average about 44 calls per day, said Kent Fire Department spokesman Kyle Ohashi.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Most of the 453 calls were for fallen trees and power lines in addition to medical aid. That number shattered the previous 24-hour record of 226 calls during the Dec. 15 2006 windstorm that caused extensive power outages.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “I was working at our emergency coordination center most of the day so I knew we had a lot of crews out,” Ohashi said. “But I was very surprised at the sheer number.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n When Ohashi drove around Kent later in the day, the high-call volume made more sense.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “When you’re out there you realize the devastation to people’s property,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The fire department called in extra crews to handle the calls. Small crews used department pickups (rather than fire engines) equipped with chainsaws to respond to calls for removing trees.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n One woman had a tree fall across her driveway and needed to get out to receive dialysis treatment, Ohashi said. Firefighters were able to cut up the tree so the woman could get out of her driveway.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The department also had 180 calls on Jan. 20, making it the fourth busiest day ever.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n