Ready, Set, Go! Know What To Do In An Emergency

With smoke recently inundating our region, and the evacuations for the wildfires in the Spokane area on people’s minds, we are participating in a regional “Ready, Set, Go!” Evacuation Campaign. This initiative aims to simplify evacuation messages to the public. These clear, straightforward messages are intended to save lives as people prepare to evacuate.   The “Ready, Set, Go!” evacuation campaign provides clear instructions on how to respond to the three levels of evacuations (traditionally Levels 1, 2, and 3). This evacuation program will be used in our area for all hazards: fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and storms. In an emergency, we will use the graphics in this post to clearly communicate how you should respond to the threat.

Level 1 – Be Ready

Be aware of the danger in your area and start preparing for possible evacuation.

Monitor local media and check on neighbors. If you do not already have an evacuation plan or a Go! kit, assemble these now. Conditions can change suddenly, and you may not receive a Level 2 “Be Set” warning before you are ordered to Level 3 “Go Now!” Prepare both the inside and outside of your home. Leave if you feel unsafe — do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 2 – Be Set

Short-notice evacuation is likely in your area.

Be prepared for sudden evacuation. People who need help or more time to evacuate — people with disabilities, people with small children, people with medical conditions and people with large animals — should evacuate now. Ensure your evacuation plan checklist is complete and that your Go! kit is in your vehicle. Stay informed and be aware of alerts from local law enforcement and fire departments. Always remember to leave if you feel unsafe, do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 3 – Go Now

Evacuate immediately from your area.

Go now! Danger in your area is current or imminent. Follow directions from law enforcement or fire departments and do not return home until officials have determined it is safe. Notification that it is safe to return home will be given as soon as possible.

Click here to read our Summer 2023 Newsletter

GIG HARBOR (WA)—The Board of Commissioners of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) has voted to place a General Levy renewal on the August ballot. The renewal is not a new tax on residents, rather a renewal of the existing levy to maintain staffing and equipment necessary to respond to emergencies across the District.

After a decade of sustained community growth, the Fire Protection District has experienced a rising need for emergency response services. During that same period of population growth, the District has seen critical safety equipment, including breathing apparatus and fire engines, reach manufacturer’s lifetime service limits and need replacement.

“Everyone at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is passionate about supporting our community by providing swift and skilled emergency response,” said District Commission Chairman, Joe Urvina. “The renewal of the general levy to fund operations and equipment is crucial to honoring our commitments to maintain and improve our services.”

The measure is the third and final step in the District’s planned funding measure updates, including the capital facilities bond, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Levy renewal, and now, the General Levy renewal. After broad public support for both the bond and EMS Levy renewal in 2022, passage of the General Levy will ensure adequate funding for the District’s overall operations.  The General Levy provides critical funding for the District’s day-to-day operations, as well as funds to maintain the District’s vehicle fleet, facilities, and safety equipment.

District residents can visit http://www.gigharborfire.org/general-levy for more information and to view a schedule of upcoming open-house events.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. Governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, the GHFMO employs 123 uniformed firefighters, with 24/7 service from five locations across the District.

[GIG HARBOR (WA)]—Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) has released its annual performance report, showing consistent response times in the face of continued community growth. GHFMO responded to over 6,500 emergency calls in 2022, a 10% increase over 2021.  2022-Annual-Performance-Report-FINAL.pdf  (gigharborfire.org)

Response times, a measure of how quickly Fire or EMS staff can respond to an incident, remained consistent in Gig Harbor’s municipal areas (those within the city limits of Gig Harbor). Our engine and ambulance crews improved their “rural” and “remote” response times, achieving agency goals more than 85% of the time. Research shows that quicker overall responses improve patient outcomes and reduce property damage from fires.

“We are pleased to see that, despite continued population growth, we have been able to maintain adequate turnout and response times and even improved our response times when traveling further from stations,” said Chief Dennis Doan. “We constantly strive to improve, working towards better outcomes through faster response times. This review helps us track our progress and provide transparency with District residents about our performance. Everyone at GHFMO is passionate about the work of caring for residents in times of crisis and protecting homes and businesses.”

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. Governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, the GHFMO employs 123 uniformed firefighters, with 24/7 service from five locations across the district.

Notice of Opportunity and Application to Service on “For” or “Against” Committees

Seeking applications from individuals interested in being appointed to the committees to write the “for” and “against” statements for the Pierce County Local Voter’s Pamphlet related to the District’s ballot measure for a multi-year general levy lid lift to be considered on August 1, 2023. Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on April 19, 2023.  For more information and to apply click here.

Click here to read our Spring 2023 Newsletter

Click here to read our Fall 2022 newsletter.

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is asking voters to consider renewing the levy for Emergency Medical Service during the November 8, 2022, General Election. Fire Chief Dennis Doan personally welcomes any questions the community may have at 253-851-3111 or ddoan@gigharborfire.org.

The EMS levy is not a new tax and this levy is capped at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters last approved the EMS levy at the same rate in 2016.

New property value assessments recently came out for the Gig Harbor community. Higher AVs do not increase revenue for the fire district by the same amount property values rise. Like all fire districts, GHFMO is limited to a 1% increase in revenue. Anything above the 1% must be approved by voters.

“Simply put: we can’t do this work without you,” Fire Chief Dennis Doan said. “Your past approval means our community receives the highest level of EMS care available called ‘Advanced Life Support’ or ‘ALS.’ “

Most fire districts provide Basic Life Support with firefighter/EMTs. ALS uses firefighter/paramedics with more than 1,000 hours of training. Paramedics can start intravenous lines, administer medication, provide advanced airway management to help patients breathe, and can interpret EKG readings of a heart attack patient, among other lifesaving medical care procedures.

Additionally, fire district residents are not charged for ambulance transport costs to area hospitals over what insurance, Medicare or Medicaid pay. This is included as part of the EMS levy.

In 2021, EMS calls accounted for 78% of all emergency calls. EMS calls for the first sixth months of 2022 were 12.4% higher than the same period in 2021. Renewing the EMS levy at the same rate helps the fire district keep up with increasing call volumes and demands for service.

More information about the EMS renewal can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/EMS.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to 6,350 calls in 2021. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly trained personnel and rescue programs.

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is asking voters to renew its levy for emergency medical services on the November General Election ballot. In 2021, EMS calls accounted for 78 percent of all emergency calls.

“EMS accounts for the supermajority of our calls,” Fire Chief Dennis Doan said. “Thanks to community support, we provide the highest level and quality of care with skilled paramedics 24 hours a day. We also don’t charge Gig Harbor residents for ambulance transport costs to area hospitals. This is included in the EMS levy.”

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One provides the highest quality level of EMS care available called “Advanced Life Support.” This means its EMS program includes highly skilled paramedics with more than 1,000 hours of training. Paramedics can start intravenous lines, administer medication, provide advanced airway management to help patients breathe, and can interpret EKG readings of a heart attack patient, among other lifesaving medical care procedures.

The EMS levy that funds this lifesaving care is capped at $0.50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This rate was approved by voters in 2016 and has since dropped to $0.44/$1,000. The $0.06/$1,000 increase would cost $2.50 per month ($30 per year) for the owner of a $500,000 home.

Since 2016, EMS calls have increased 16.7%. EMS calls for the first sixth months of 2022 were 12.4% higher than the same period in 2021. Renewing the EMS levy at the same rate helps the fire district keep up with increasing call volumes and demands for service.

More information about the EMS renewal can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/EMS. Fire Chief Dennis Doan also welcomes questions at 253-851-3111 or ddoan@gigharborfire.org.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to 6,350 calls in 2021. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly trained personnel and rescue programs.

Questions About the Bond?

Community invited to meetings to learn more

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) is holding three public meetings for residents to learn more about the facilities bond on the August 2, 2022 Primary Election ballot. The purpose of the bond is to add space for emergency personnel, and improve community safety and the health and safety of its firefighters.

Meetings will be held on:

• Wednesday, July 13 at 6:00 p.m. – Station 53 (Fox Island), 906 Kamus Dr., Fox Island
• Saturday, July 23 at 1:30 p.m. – Station 58 (Swede Hill), 10302 Bujacich Rd., Gig Harbor
• Wednesday, July 27 at 6:00 p.m. – Station 51 (Gig Harbor), 6711 Kimball Dr., Gig Harbor

Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some stations lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and toxic chemicals from firefighting gear. There is also a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment after EMS calls.

Other renovations include adding space for emergency personnel, complying with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, seismic upgrades, and enlarging bays to shelter modern apparatus.

The bond would fund needed improvements at Station 53 (Fox Island), 57 (Crescent Valley), 58 (Swede Hill), and 59 (Artondale). It also will replace Station 51, the community’s busiest station in downtown Gig Harbor, and build a live fire training facility.

The bond would last for 20-years and is projected to cost the owner of a $500,000 home (considered the average for the Gig Harbor community) $9.90 per month, or $118.80 per year. (The calculation rate is $0.238 per $1,000 of assessed property value.) Please note that the assessed value of your property is lower than its market value. The financial health of GHFMO helps ensure a favorable bond rate, as well.

More information on the facilities bond can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/bond. Fire Chief Dennis Doan also welcomes your questions at DDoan@gigharborfire.org.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Bond Measure on August 2 Primary Election Ballot

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) reports that call volumes have increased 13.1% from January through May of 2022 compared to the same period last year. GHFMO attributes the increase to growth and an aging population in its service territory.

“Our community requires additional emergency personnel, but we have no place to put them,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “The purpose of the bond is to create more space for emergency personnel, and improve community safety and the health and safety of our firefighters.”

The bond also will help shelter modern apparatus, which is too large to fit in the current fire station bays. Emergency apparatus, such as fire engines, can cost as much as $700,000. It’s important to keep them sheltered from extreme weather to extend their usable lives.

The bond would fund needed improvements at Station 53 (Fox Island), 57 (Crescent Valley), 58 (Swede Hill), and 59 (Artondale). Some stations do not meet ADA requirements, or current seismic standards. They also lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a diverse work force. Renovations to stations will improve the Fire District’s ability to respond to emergencies, and ensure fire stations can withstand an earthquake.

Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some stations lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and toxic chemicals from firefighting gear. There is also a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment after EMS calls.

The bond also would construct a live fire training facility. Currently, firefighters may only train with live fire once every three years and must leave the area to do so. A local fire training facility would ensure firefighters train more often to perfect these life and property-saving skills.

The bond would last for 20-years and is projected to cost the owner of a $500,000 home (considered the average for the Gig Harbor community) $9.90 per month, or $118.80 per year. (The calculation rate is $0.238 per $1,000 of assessed property value.) Please note that the assessed value of your property is lower than its market value. The financial health of GHFMO helps ensure a favorable bond rate, as well.

More information on the facilities bond can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/bond. Fire Chief Dennis Doan also welcomes your questions at DDoan@gigharborfire.org.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Measure on the August 2 Primary Election Ballot

 [Gig Harbor, Wash.] –  The Board of Fire Commissioners for Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) unanimously passed a resolution to place a facilities bond on the August 2, 2022 Primary Election ballot. The purpose of the facility improvements is to improve community safety, and improve the health and safety of emergency personnel.

Stations 53 (Fox Island), 57 (Crescent Valley), 58 (Swede Hill), and 59 (Artondale) are scheduled for improvements. Some stations do not meet ADA requirements, or current seismic standards. They also lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a diverse work force.

“Call volumes have increased to the point where we need more space for personnel. The Gig Harbor community has grown that much,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “Adding space for current and future staffing will improve our ability to respond district-wide to emergencies.”

The Fire District recently completed a Standards of Cover report that identifies staffing needs based on the quantity and location of emergency calls. The Gig Harbor community has grown by more than 16% since 2010. Call volumes have increased 37% in the same time period.

Just as important for GHFMO is providing a healthier work environment for emergency personnel. Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some of stations lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear. There is also a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment used at EMS calls.

“I may be a fire chief now, but I was a firefighter for most of my professional career. I’ve lost colleagues to work-related illnesses,” said Chief Doan. “We know so much more now about preventing this loss of life compared to when I started. I feel so strongly about this issue. I hope the community will recognize the importance of providing a safer work environment for the women and men who serve our community.”

Other bond projects include building a facility for regular live fire trainings. Currently, firefighters may only train on live fire once every three years and must leave the area to perfect these life and property-saving skills. The training facility would be constructed on land owned by the Fire District adjacent to Station 58 (Swede Hill).

“When you call 911 for a fire? It’s ‘go time’ for you and our people,” said Chief Doan. “We want our firefighters to have as much live fire training as possible. It’s not something you can simulate with a computer program.”

Station 51 in Gig Harbor is also slated for replacement. It’s the Fire District’s busiest station, and requires replacement to continue serving the heaviest call volume, including additional personnel and modern emergency apparatus that won’t fit into the current bays.

The bond would last for 20-years and is projected to cost $9.90 per month for the owner of a $500,000 home. The assessed value of a home is less than its market value. Interest rates are still low, and the financial health of the Fire District helps ensure a favorable finance rate.

The Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved a Capital Facilities Plan in December of 2021 to identify needed facility improvements, and apparatus and equipment purchases. The Fire District recognized that it could not fund all items at the same time, and prioritized the project list.

More information on the facilities bond can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/bond. Fire Chief Dennis Doan also welcomes your questions at DDoan@gigharborfire.org.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Public Invited to Learn More and Provide Comment

 [Gig Harbor, Wash.] –  The Board of Fire Commissioners for Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One (GHFMO) will meet to discuss a resolution to place a facilities bond on the August 2, 2022 Primary Election ballot. There will be two meetings where the proposal is discussed, and the community is welcome and encouraged to attend the virtual meetings.

The meetings will be held at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 and Tuesday, April 12. Meetings are held via Zoom and accessed using a link on the District website www.gigharborfire.org. Community members unable to attend are encouraged to send input to Fire Chief Dennis Doan at DDoan@gigharborfire.org. All comments become part of the official record.

The Gig Harbor community has grown by more than 16% since 2010. Call volumes have increased 37% in the same time period. Emergency medical service accounts for 78% of all calls.

The Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved a Capital Facilities Plan in December of 2021. Priority projects for the bond include building a training facility, and renovating or replacing fire stations.

The Fire District has no facility for regular live fire trainings. This means firefighters may only train on live fire once every three years and must leave the area to perfect these life and property-saving skills. The training facility would be constructed on land owned by the Fire District adjacent to Station 50 (Swede Hill).

Stations 53 (Fox Island), 57 (Crescent Valley), 58 (Swede Hill), and 59 (Artondale) are scheduled for improvements. Some stations do not meet ADA requirements, or current seismic standards. They also lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a diverse work force.

Just as important for GHFMO is providing a healthier work environment for emergency personnel. Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some of stations lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear. There is also a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment used at EMS calls.

Station 51 in Gig Harbor is the Fire District’s busiest station. The Capital Facilities Plan calls for replacing the current station at the same location to accommodate additional personnel and modern emergency apparatus.

The bond would last for 20-years and is projected to cost $9.90 per month for the owner of a $500,000 home. Interest rates are still low, and the financial health of the Fire District helps ensure a favorable finance rate.

“It’s an exciting time for our community and Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “Our community has grown to the point it requires a modern emergency response. We’re putting plans in motion to deliver the level of service our community requires.”

More information on the facilities bond can be found at www.gigharborfire.org/about/bond.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

EMS calls jump 8% in one year

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One shared 2021 call volumes for the Fire District that provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. Emergency medical service (EMS) calls in 2021 were up 8% compared to the year before (4,578 to 4,945). Emergency calls in general increased 3% over last year (from 6,136 to 6,316).

“We are making improvements in how we provide service to meet this demand,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “I’m incredibly proud of the dedicated emergency personnel, who are rising to the challenge.”

The Fire District recently completed a Standards of Cover Report, which identifies staffing needs for the community. Emergency personnel is funded out of the agency’s operating levies, which are capped at $1.50 for fire suppression and $0.50 for EMS. (Amounts listed are per $1,000 of assessed property value.)

EMS accounts for 78% of all emergency calls, and the lid lift that maintains funding for the program will expire at the end of 2022. GHFMO anticipates asking the community to renew it at the same rate previously approved by voters. That ballot measure is likely to be on the November 2022 General Election ballot.

Another issue the agency is trying to address involves its outdated facilities. The Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved a Capital Facilities Plan in December of 2021. The project list is long and the Fire District realizes it can’t do everything at once.

“Adequate facilities are important to the delivery of emergency services, and this plan has been needed for a long time,” said Chief Doan. “These projects will improve the health and safety of our community and its firefighters.”

Priority projects include building a training facility, replacing one station and renovating two to four others depending on the cost. Capital projects are too expensive to fund out of the Fire District’s operating levies without significantly cutting emergency service levels. The Fire District is discussing the potential for a bond request on the August Primary Election ballot.

The discussion is timely considering January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some of GHFMO’s stations lack appropriate decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear. There also is a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment after EMS calls.

“I feel strongly about providing a healthy and safe working environment for the women and men who put their lives on the line every day for our community,” said Chief Doan. “I hope our community feels the same and sees this as a top priority for facility improvements.”

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019. Calls for emergency responses have increased 42% since 2011. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Funding Measures Considered for 2022

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – The Board of Fire Commissioners for Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One unanimously approved a Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) at its December 14, 2021 meeting. The CFP identifies projects, such as stations, apparatus and equipment, that need completing to improve emergency services for the Gig Harbor community.

Priority projects include building a training facility, replacing one station and renovating two others. The projects, driven by the need to improve public safety and firefighter health and safety, would require bond funding to complete.

Daily operations at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One are funded by two levies for fire and emergency medical service. Capital needs are usually funded by voter-approved bonds.

“Saving lives and property comes down to three things: firefighters, facilities and apparatus. Some of our facilities don’t support the level of emergency response that our community requires,” said Chief Doan.

For example, the Fire District has no facility for regular live fire trainings. This means firefighters may only train on live fire once every three years and must leave the area to perfect these life and property-saving skills.  A training facility would provide a higher level of services for residents.

Replacing Station 51 in Gig Harbor, and renovating Stations 58 (Swede Hill) and 59 (Artondale) also made the list. The stations do not meet ADA requirements, or current seismic standards. The stations lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a more diverse work force.

Firefighter health and safety is also a concern. Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. The stations lack appropriate decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear. There also is a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment after emergency medical service calls.

“We have an obligation to provide our firefighters with as safe a working environment as possible,” said Chief Doan. “We can, and must do better.”

The Gig Harbor community has grown by more than 16% since 2010. Call volumes have increased 50% in the same time period. Fire Chief Dennis Doan says that the fire district has needed to assess its facilities and coverage for some time now.

The Board of Fire Commissioners is considering placing two funding requests on the ballot in 2022. The bond for facility improvements is projected to be $0.24 per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $120 per year ($10 per month) for the owner of a $500,000 home.

The agency also needs to renew its levy for emergency medical service by the end of the year. EMS accounts for 78% of all emergency calls for the agency. Voters will be asked to renew that at the same previously-approved rate of $0.50 per $1,000. The EMS levy provides a 24-hour Paramedic response, and ambulance transport service for Gig Harbor residents.

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2020 – a 33.4% increase compared to 10 years ago. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Click here to read our 2021 Fall-Winter Newsletter.

The public is encouraged to attend the upcoming Capital Facilities Plan Meetings. These virtual meetings can be accessed through our website at: www.gigharborfire.org/commissioners-meetings.

Community members who are unable to attend are encouraged to send comments via email to:
Fire Chief Dennis Doan
ddoan@gigharborfire.org

Public invited to learn more and comment

[Gig Harbor, Wash.] – Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One will introduce its draft Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) to the community at two upcoming meetings. The CFP identifies capital projects, such as stations, apparatus and equipment, that need completing to improve emergency services for the Gig Harbor community.

The draft CFP will be presented during the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 5 p.m. The Board will meet to adopt the plan with changes on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings to learn more.

The virtual meetings can be accessed through the Fire District’s website at www.gigharborfire.org/commissioners-meetings. Community members who are unable to attend are encouraged to send comments to Fire Chief Dennis Doan at DDoan@gigharborfire.org.

The Gig Harbor community has grown by more than 16% since 2010. Call volumes have increased 50% in the same time period.

“Planning for emergency services is a critical part of what we do,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “This plan has identified two key areas in need of improvement: public safety and firefighter health and safety.”

Many of the Fire District’s stations are more than 30 years old, and do not meet current ADA or seismic standards.  The structures lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a diverse work force. The inability to adequately staff these stations can make response times longer to 911 calls.

The Fire District also has no facility for regular live fire trainings. This means firefighters may only train on live fire once every three years and must leave the area to perfect these life and property-saving skills.

“This is a real concern for public safety,” said Fire Chief Doan. “We don’t want the first time a firefighter fights fire to be on your home. These are skills that need to be regularly practiced and perfected to improve the outcome for our community.”

Firefighter health and safety is also an issue. Cancer is known to be a leading cause of death among firefighters. Some stations lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear, which are known carcinogens. Adding specialized areas also means emergency personnel can decontaminate medical equipment after emergency medical service calls. 

Daily operations at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One are funded by two levies for fire and emergency medical service. Capital needs (such as stations, apparatus and some equipment) are usually funded by voter-approved bonds, which some of these projects will require.

“Saving lives and property depends on three things equally,” said Fire Chief Doan. “Adequate facilities, modern apparatus and equipment, and enough emergency personnel to respond. The CFP is a blueprint to show what we need to do for the first two. We will address staffing issues in a Standards of Cover report in the near future, as well.”

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Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 5 (known as Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One) provides fire and life safety services to 53,000 people over 54 square miles. The Fire District responded to a high of 6,685 calls in 2019 – a 50% increase compared to 10 years ago. Through community support, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has built one of the most advanced emergency response systems in Pierce County with highly-trained personnel and rescue programs.

Please be aware Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One does not allow residential yard debris burning from June 16 thru October 14, more information about the allowable burn period can be found by clicking here.

The county-wide fire safety burn ban for unincorporated Pierce County will be lifted at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21. This decision was made due to recent rains, the forecast of continued precipitation and moderate temperatures.

Lifting the ban does not affect those areas in Pierce County where burning is prohibited because of environmental or pollution laws, nor in areas where the local fire district limits or prohibits burning. Burning in those areas is still not allowed.

Burning is restricted to natural vegetation from the burn site only. The burning of garbage, paper or other refuse is strictly prohibited at all times. Contact your local fire department to see if you are required to obtain a burning permit.

For more information on outdoor burning, click here.

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week^TM campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety^TM.” This year’s campaign, October 3-9^th,  works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

“What do the sounds mean? Is there a beep or a chirp coming out of your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm? Knowing the difference can save you, your home, and your family,” said Lorraine Carli, vice-president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA.

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One encourages all residents to embrace the 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme.

Learn the Sounds!

• A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.  Making sure there are two ways out of every room is essential for fire escape planning.  We encourage all residents to create and escape plan.  Taking just 15 minutes to complete the task could save your life.

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has engaged the services of Dynamix Consulting Group, a consulting firm specializing in assisting local governments and public safety agencies, to facilitate Community Risk Assessment: Standards of Cover. This involves assessing the fire department’s current staffing, organization, and delivery of services, as well as identifying existing strengths, weaknesses, and costs in these areas. Ultimately, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One will be presented with potential options, recommendations, and implementation strategies for structural and procedural improvements in these areas.

Community input is a critical component of evaluating the services provided by the fire department. Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is encouraging all residents and business owners to provide their opinions on the services offered by the fire department. All individual responses will be held in strict confidence, characterized only as part of the global feedback.

This survey is now closed.

Please join us on Saturday, September 11, 2021, as we honor the lives lost 20 years ago during the 9/11 Terrorist Attack on America.  Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One will be hosting a public ceremony in the 911 Memorial Garden at Station 50 (10222 Bujacich Rd. NW) at 9:00 am. that morning.

From a historical perspective, the “911 Memorial Garden” provides an opportunity in Gig Harbor to pay tribute to those who died on 9/11, to the acts of bravery that brought us together as a nation, and to those who put themselves in harm’s way in the service of others. The treasured piece of steel salvaged from one of the World Trade Center’s twin towers now has a permanent home, not just in landscape, but in the hearts of our community as well.

The Red Flag Event has been lifted.  The Pierce County Fire Marshal is allowing recreational burning again, more information can be found at this link: https://www.piercecountywa.org/982/Outdoor-Burning  or by visiting our website: https://www.gigharborfire.org/education-and-events/services-offered/burn-permits/

Please be aware that the fire safety burn ban that went into effect on June 25, 2021 is still active.

This burn ban applies to all land clearing and yard debris outdoor burning.  This ban does not apply to small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved campgrounds or private property with the owner’s permission.  The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbecues is allowed under the ban.

Recreational fires must: 

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not used as debris disposal.
• Grow no larger than three feet in diameter.
• Be in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches.
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire like hand tools and a garden hose attached to a water faucet that is on, or not less than two five-gallon buckets of water.
• No burning when winds exceed 5 mph.

ALL outdoor burning including recreational and cooking fires (except a gas grill) during this Red Flag event is prohibited until the Red Flag event is over as determined by the National Weather Service.  More information can be found by clicking here.

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One facilities have been closed to the public for non-essential business since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. This was done out of an abundance of caution for our citizens, visitors and employees.  Based on current guidance from local and State health authorities, we believe it is safe to re-open our facilities to non-essential business.

Our 24hr Staffed Fire Stations (see list below) will be open for walk-up EMERGENCY requests:

• Station 51 – 6711 Kimball Dr.
• Station 52 – 2217 Pt. Fosdick Dr NW
• Station 56 – 5210 144^th ST NW
• Station 58 – 10302 Bujacich Rd NW
• Station 59 – 3828 62^nd Ave Ct NW

NOTE: Response crews may be out of the fire station for alarms or department business. It is ALWAYS better to call 911 from your current location instead of driving to one of our station locations.

Our headquarters facility located at 10222 Bujacich Rd NW is open Monday-Friday from 8AM to 5PM, excluding Holidays. This facility will be open for general business inquiries, deliveries, and address sign pick-up.

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One facilities are currently unable to accommodate non-emergent blood pressure checks, bicycle helmet fittings or public education classes (CPR, BLS-Healthcare Provider, Safe Sitter, etc.). These programs will be re-evaluated at a later date or as health and safety guidance changes. 

Based on current health guidance, if you are experiencing symptoms of an illness please refrain from coming to our facilities for non-essential business.  We also ask that visitors follow all current local, state and federal masking requirements.

Sincerely,

Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One

A fire safety burn ban went into effect for our service area at 8 a.m. on June 25, 2021, until further notice (This does not effect recreational fires).  More information can be found by clicking here.