Lacey Fire District 3

5/10/2012 — Three response crews from Lacey Fire District 3 participated in a regional training exercise on Thursday, May 10^th. The training was coordinated by the Homeland Security Region and several District staff members were actively involved in the planning efforts. Such training is extremely valuable for preparing multiple fire, emergency medical service, and law enforcement agencies to work together during major events. To read more and view pictures of this event, follow the links below:
For the story: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/10/2099834/county-emergency-response-law.html
For the pictures: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/10/2100144/mock-county-disaster-drill-help.html

5/1/2012 — Lacey Fire District 3 units responded to an early morning house fire in the 4000 block of 20th Ave NE. Dispatch had received a call that a home was on fire in the same development as the fires on April 28th. Upon arrival, our crews found a two story house with a working fire in the entry way. The fire was quickly put out by the initial Engine and Truck Companies. This home was still under construction and unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Lacey, Olympia, and South Bay crews worked to quickly extinguish this fire. Additional crews from Lacey were used to check all the other homes under construction to make sure there were no additional fires.

The cause of this fire is under investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, but fire fighters believe that the circumstances are suspicious, and could be related to the other fires. There were no injuries to citizens or fire department personnel. Damage to the structure was estimated at $10,000.

To read updates on this story, click here and here.

Just a reminder – Residents who do not have a working smoke detector and can’t afford to buy one can pick one up at Lacey Fire District Three’s headquarters station, located at 1231 Franz St SE in Lacey.

4/17/2012 – The Adventures in Learning Preschool recently visited LFD3 Headquarters Station 31 to learn about fire safety and to get to know their firefighters.

In the photo above, teachers and parents look on as the students learn how to crawl low in smoke and what a firefighter would look like if he or she were coming to rescue you in a fire.

If you would like an adventure for your group, please call the Headquarters Station at 491-2410, Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm, to schedule a tour.

3/31/2012 — The Lacey Fire District 3 Board of Commissioners approved the 2012 Operations Plan presented by staff at their March 15th meeting. The plan is structured to manage the call volume to best serve the population of the district with constrained resources. Lacey Fire District 3 responds to approximately 11,000 fire, rescue, medical, and service requests annually throughout the 70 square miles of the District, as well as providing support to other agencies when needed.

Staffing changes, which take effect April 1st, will assure adequate staffing at its Headquarters Station on Franz Street, the station with the most daily calls, and will mean removing staffing from the Willamette Drive Station which accounts for about five percent of the District’s annual call volume. The northeast area of the fire district will then be served primarily from the Steilacoom Road station. The staffing changes will allow the District to continue to operate with the reduced number of personnel daily and remain within its adopted 2012 budget. The adjustment is expected to result in about a two minute addition to the average response times for the Willamette Station’s response area. “There is no more difficult decision for a Fire Chief than to recommend a reduction of services to any portion of our community, but taxpayers expect the District to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars and we simply cannot live beyond our means”, Brooks said. Click here to read complete press release.

3/21/2012 – On Thursday evening, March 1st, the District held a pinning ceremony to celebrate the promotion of one Deputy Chief, one Battalion Chief, and four Lieutenants. Additionally, four new volunteer firefighters received their badges marking the completion of their rigorous initial training process and their ability to begin their shift assignments.

Division Chief Kathy Dickson was promoted to Deputy Chief as her parents proudly pinned her new collar brass.

It was a family affair as Steve Crimmins was promoted from a Temporary Battalion Chief to a regular appointment as Battalion Chief with his family at his side.

Spouses were called upon to pin badges on Firefighter Jason Roberts, Paramedic/Firefighter Alex Christiansen, Firefighter Rob Randall, and Firefighter Ryan Cox as they were promoted to Lieutenants positions.

Adam Jones, David Perz, Nathan Vargas, and Tony Pedersen were joined by their families as they took the oath of office as Volunteer Firefighters.

Congratulations to all for jobs well done!

3/2/2012 — Our priority as a fire district is to provide the most effective public safety services possible while stewarding well the financial resources that our citizens have entrusted to us. Just like everyone else, the current economic climate has created significant challenges in maintaining our desired levels of service. You can read more about the 2012 Amended Budget on our Budget & Finance Page under the “About Us” tab above.

2/28/2012 – The Lacey Fire District 3 Board of Commissioners reviewed a proposed 2012 Operations Plan presented by staff at their Feb 16^th meeting. The plan is structured to manage the call volume to best serve the population of the district with constrained resources. Lacey Fire District 3 responds to approximately 11,000 fire, rescue, medical, and service requests annually throughout the 70 square miles of the District, as well as providing support to other agencies when needed. For more information, read the full press releaseby clicking the link.

Lacey Fire District Three is currently accepting applications for volunteer firefighter positions.
Minimum qualifications include:
• At least 18 years of age
• Current WA state drivers license w/an insurable driving record
• High school diploma or GED

Desired Qualifications include:
• IFSAC Firefighter I certification
• Current WA State or National Registry EMT certification

Testing requirements include a general knowledge test, the nationally recognized Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), and oral board interview. If selected to join, the candidate must pass a complete fit-for-duty medical examination.
In addition to the qualifications and testing requirements listed above, successful candidates must be able to meet training and participation requirements. Our volunteer firefighters are expected to work a minimum of one 12-hour shift every 9 days plus attend one pre-scheduled weekend training session per month.
If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please contact the Human Resources Officer at (360)528-2313 or email wsternshein@laceyfire.com to schedule an informal intake interview.

Just a reminder that each month we post a newsletter to our community highlighting activities and news that we hope will be of interest to you. Be sure to click on the Community Dispatch link in the column to the right to view current and past issues. If you have questions about the newsletter or story suggestions for us, please feel free to email info@laceyfire.com. We really like to hear from you.

We would like to share with you the top ten questions asked most often about LFD3. If you have more questions, we would welcome them to info@laceyfire.com. We will find the answers and add them to these frequently asked questions (FAQs). Then it can become the Top Twenty, or Top Fifty, or Top . . . After all, inquiring minds want to know! Click here to read the Top Ten FAQs.