From the
Board of Commissioners 
by: Rick Kuss

As the chair of your fire commission, I believe it is important that the Board of Commissioners remain in close contact with you on all issues regarding district business.  Realizing how precious your time is, I will spare any lengthy explanation regarding the following issue and let the facts speak for themselves. 

By a very narrow margin, the residents of the fire district defeated the proposal to maintain a five-member board at the last general election. Frankly, we feel that we did a poor job informing the voters of why we presented this proposal to a vote of the people. As your elected officials, we want to provide more comprehensive education regarding this subject and in the near future may again present this issue to you for a vote. 

I polled several citizens of the district and found that they misunderstood some of the information at the last general election.  Included were: 

I read in the newsletter that there are already five commissioners. I’m confused.

When the fire districts became one department by a vote of the people last year, the commissioners from the former District #24 became part of the District #22 board, which is technically called the “surviving” district. Although there are currently five commissioners, state law requires that, unless the voters approve changing the membership from three to five, board positions will be reduced as commissioners resign or their terms expire, until there are three members remaining.  This reduction through attrition would be complete by 2005.

Why did the Fire Commission ask to maintain five commissioners?

Our district now encompasses the area from the City of Auburn to South Prairie Fire District #20 and the City of Sumner to Buckley Fire District #12, an increase of over 57% in square miles from the original boundaries. The commission recognizes that maintaining five members will better represent the geographically-challenging and diverse makeup of the larger district and its urban, suburban, and rural service requirements. Also, there are currently no commissioners who reside inside the municipal boundary of the City of Bonney Lake.

How much more will it cost me?

No more than is currently being spent. The entire commissioner reimbursement budget line-item will remain at $12,000 annually, or less than one-third of one percent of the annual district budget.

If the district commission drops to three members, would it restrict the way the commissioners are currently doing business on items like long-range planning, finance, and human resource issues?

Yes. Two fire commissioners from a three-member commission could not work together on a project, as this would constitute a quorum of the board and, therefore, be a full board meeting. Under a five-member commission, two commissioners could serve on a sub-committee to more effectively research issues and report back to the full board, thus widening productivity in our actively-growing district.

The Maintenance of a Five-Member Commission will: 

      ü  Preserve the current level of representation for the citizens of our diversified and growing area.

      ü  Sustain the ability for sub-committees of two commissioners to tackle long-range planning, finance and human resource issues.

Please feel free to contact any of the commissioners or district staff, who will be happy to provide you with information regarding this or any other issue.  Our regular commissioners meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Bonney Lake Public Safety Building and are always open to the public.

Summer Swimming Safety

With summer just around the corner, we are all gearing up to enjoy all of the wonderful water activities, from fishing to boating, that Washington has to offer. Before you jump in though, there are a few important tips to remember to make sure you stay safe!

Realize that cold water is a secret killer. The average water temperature in Washington’s lakes and rivers is a chilly 53°F. Even on a sunny and warm day, water this cold can induce hypothermia. Your core body temperature begins to drop within minutes, quickly zapping your body of energy and causing you to lose muscle coordination. Victims often lose consciousness and drown. Those most at risk of drowning in cold water are:

lean, with low body fat

under the influence of alcohol or drugs

fatigued (often from swimming too far or for too long)

Alcohol and drugs can be just as deadly on the water as on the road. Your senses, reflexes, and judgement are just as impaired and the results can be just as deadly as drinking and driving. About 40% of teen drownings involved alcohol. It is a myth that you can drink or use drugs and still be in control while swimming or boating.

Life jackets are life-savers… and they can be fashionable, too! If you ask any rescue professional if they have ever pulled a body out of the water with a life jacket still on, you will hear a resounding “no”! Wearing a life jacket while in a small boat, canoe, or swimming long distances, helps you be prepared for changes in currents or weather conditions. Life jackets are not the big, bulky, bright orange vests they used to be! Choose a style and color that is most comfortable and fashionable for you.

Don’t overestimate your swimming ability… it may be farther than it looks! From the shore, an island may look like it is within swimming range, but that same island can be much farther away once you are in the water and fighting currents and cold temperatures. Even if you are a good swimmer, always wear a life jacket or have someone follow you in a boat if you are swimming distances.

Take all calls for help seriously. A person can drown in less than 5 minutes, so there is no time for second-guessing or joking around. Be aware of others around you, and if you hear someone call for help or notice that they have been under water, respond quickly.

Make sure that you have many more summers to enjoy with friends and family by making the right choices this summer and being safe on the water!

Have a safe and fun summer!

From East Pierce Fire & Rescue 
and
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

Board of Fire Commissioners Review Changes to State Open Burning Regulations

On April 13, 2000, the State of Washington enacted changes to open burning regulations enforced throughout the State. Several of the regulations adopted by the state result in significant changes for the citizens living within Pierce County Fire District #22. Many people who were able to conduct land clearing or residential burns in the past will no longer be able to do so. This is due to the majority of the area now being designated as a “carbon monoxide non-attainment area”. This means that unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide are present in the air and additional carbon monoxide released during outdoor burning presents a significant health hazard to the public.

In addition to the prohibition of burning in a majority of the area covered by the Fire District, the new law limits the time periods in which burning is allowed to the first and second weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in April and the third and fourth weekends in October, unless the local jurisdiction or fire district chooses to expand the times and establish a permit program. Enforcement of the new regulations by the Puget Clean Air Agency was delayed in an effort to give local jurisdictions an opportunity to study the new regulations and educate the public on these changes. At their meeting last September, the Board of Fire Commissioners received a report on the changes from Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal John McDonald, deciding to study the options before making a decision after the first of the year. During that time, several options were developed ranging from an outright prohibition on open burning to retaining the existing burning periods of April 1 through May 31 and October 1 through November 15. At the regular meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners on February 20, 2001, several citizens addressed the Commissioners and stated their desire to continue to allow burning within the existing burn periods. After lengthy discussions, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to continue to allow burning within the new burn areas from April 1 through May 31 and October 1 through November 15 each year with a valid permit. For information on whether you fall within the boundaries of the new burn areas, or how to obtain a burn permit, please contact the fire district offices at (253) 863-1800. If you have any other questions about these new regulations, please feel free to contact East Pierce Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal John McDonald at (253) 863-1800, or the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at (800) 552-3565.

Year 2000 Emergency Response Summary

 Total Alarms: 2693

Spotlight on Department Employees

In the last several months EPF&R has said good-bye to some very special individuals. Dwight Crumpacker, Linda Hanson, and Scott Smith turned in their bunker gear for their retirement outfits. As Volunteer Lieutenants and Firefighter EMT’s, these three truly set the standard for dedication and deserve many thanks for their leadership, commitment, and life saving skills they provided everyday. If you happen to know any of these individuals, please let them know how much you appreciate their service to your family and our community.

Dwight Crumpacker joined the department in March 1979 and retired March 2000. He was instrumental in assisting with the development of our Water Rescue Program - including the “Osprey”, our 27-foot water rescue craft. Dwight’s U.S. Coast Guard experience helped to develop training standards for boat operations. He also participated in the development of the department’s “Master Plan” which established operational standards used today. Throughout his volunteer career, Dwight received numerous department awards for his participation and leadership. Thank you, Dwight, for everything you brought to our department. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

Linda Hanson has retired after 25 years of service as a Firefighter/EMT. Her volunteer career began after husband, Al, had already been with the department for a year. Al retired in 1999 with 25 years of service, as well. This dedication to serve seems to run in the family, as daughter Laurie and son Dan also were volunteer firefighters. Linda served on many committees throughout her career, but none as important as the development of the Automatic Defibulator Program. This truly is a piece of life-saving equipment. She attended numerous training classes to become a certified instructor enabling her to teach others to operate it. Linda also participated on the Master Plan Committee and provided valuable insight into the development of department standards. Linda’s most memorable attribute is her dedication to the community to be available for emergency responses. Day or night, if someone in our community called 911 for assistance, Linda responded. There were many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in the Hanson house that were interrupted because Linda and Al responded to help. Thank you, Linda, for your true caring of people, and congratulations on your more than deserved retirement!

Scott Smith began his emergency service career with a background in emergency medicine. This knowledge, along with his outstanding attendance at training drills, provided an experienced responder for those living on the East side of Lake Tapps. Scott became a Volunteer Lieutenant and again provided quality leadership for the personnel at Station 4-5. He also participated on many committees and received numerous awards for his dedication and consistent participation. After dedicating the last 15 years to serving your community, it is time for you to really enjoy the 19^th hole on Tapps Island! Thank you, Scott, for all your time and everything you have given to the success of our department.

Help the Hydrants

As we all know, East Pierce Fire and Rescue depends not only on the equipment we use but also on the cooperation of our citizens to provide the best and most efficient emergency services within our community. We are asking you this spring to help us with the fire hydrants we use, some of which may be on your street or even in your front yard. Sometimes it’s easy to ignore them as, with any luck, they aren’t used very often. But they can also be easily neglected and/or obstructed, and this can lead to serious problems for the fire department. In the event of a fire, a hydrant that is not clearly visible and accessible can slow down fire fighting efforts dramatically, which can be deadly in such time-critical circumstances.

If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, you can help us by double-checking the following guidelines of hydrant maintenance:

A minimum of three (3) feet of clear space should surround each hydrant. Trees, shrubs and other vegetation should be kept cut down or back, leaving the hydrant clearly visible and accessible.

Fences should be constructed at least three (3) feet away from the hydrant and at angles that do not obstruct its visibility or fire department access.

Make sure vehicles are parked at least fifteen (15) feet from the hydrant in any direction so that connecting fire hoses to the hydrant is not hindered.

Hydrants should be dry with all caps in place. There should not be any water leaking from the hydrant at any time.

The paint on the fire hydrant should be in good condition. No objects, graffiti or other defacement should be present on any hydrant.

If the hydrant is in your yard or near your property, please help us out by taking care of the things within your control. If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Chief John McDonald or Captain Barry Barquest at (253) 863-1800.

Again, thank you for your help. As always, the greatest community effort is a collective one!

Can We Find You if We Need To?

Now that winter is winding down and we’re heading outdoors to face the yard work, it’s a good time to make sure that your house is easy to find in the event of an emergency. Do you have your address number clearly marked either on the front or your house or at the street? Is your street name clearly visible from each cross street? Here’s how to make sure that if you need us, we’ll get there easily and quickly:

Numbers should be clearly visible from the street. If your house is set back from the street, make sure that your address numbers are also posted at the curb or near the end of your driveway.

Numbers should be at least four (4) inches high.

Numbers should be in a color contrasting to their background. It’s also a good idea if they are reflective.

Numbers should be posted on the front of your house and not obstructed by trees, bushes, flags, basketball hoops, etc.

If you have a suite or unit number or letter attached to your address, make sure that it is also posted with the numbers (i.e. 2245-A or 2245-#10).

Health Services for Seniors