Crime & Safety

Gig Harbor Firefighters, Equipment to Help Battle Central Washington Wildfires

All resources have been mobilized under authorization of the Washington State Fire Mobilization Act, which provides for resource protection and funding to fight wildfires.

Several members of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One have been deployed to help battle wildfires in Central Washington, according to its Prevention Specialist Nanette Tatom.

As of Tuesday at 11:15 a.m., the Northwest Preparedness Level (PL) has been elevated to a "4" (out of 5 being highest) due to several large fires in the Northwest and the threat of more severe weather/fires is immanent.

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One has the following employees/apparatus deployed: 

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Battalion Chief Todd Meyer is deployed as a Strike Team Leader at the "Mile Marker 28 Fire" near Goldendale, WA. His Engine Strike Team is involved with Fire Suppression along Highway 97 and Structure Protection. Structures have been lost, many more-including the towns of Goldendale and Bickleton are threatened. The fire is currently 17,000-plus acres with 25 percent containment. 

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Brush Rig 51 and Engine 55 are deployed as part of the South Puget Wildland Task Force (Key Peninsula Fire Department Lt. Dale Heidal is their Strike Team Leader) assigned to the "Colockum Tarps Fire" located 12 mi SE of Wenatchee, WA. 

Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This fire is 7,000-plus acres with zero percent containment. Structures have been lost, and many threatened as the fire is moving into Kittatas County. Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One members are Stevan Peterson, Derek Hansen, Chuck Gnegy, Scott Jorgenson and Andy Cochrane.

All resources have been mobilized under authorization of the Washington State Fire Mobilization Act, which provides for resource protection and funding to fight wildfires. 

This includes pay for Firefighters and District Apparatus, as well as the backfill of members deployed during catastrophic natural disasters/fires. Members and equipment can be deployed up to two weeks. 


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