Poulsbo Fire Department History - Poulsbo, Washington, USA

A Brief Written History of Poulsbo Fire Department

Part 7 - 1980 to Today
This was generally speaking a period of consolidation and strengthening of forces. Considerable additional equipment was purchased and added to that existing on all of the various units of the Department. This included better radios, additional two-way hand held radios for the officers, special tools, an inflatable boat with outboard motor that could be carried on top of the rescue truck, larger (4,000 watt) engine/generator plants on the trucks to operate smoke fans and scene illumination, high pressure air tanks for breathing gear in smoke-filled buildings, to name a few. The load of equipment tucked into the various compartments of each truck is fantastic, but when needed is available.

In 1984 Poulsbo had a department consisting of a paid fire chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, paramedics, firefighter, secretary and a considerable volunteer crew of firemen. With this expanded staff and the new equipment purchased, the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau considered Poulsbo in far better condition relative to fire protection, but still not sufficiently improved to warrant a change from Class 5 to Class 4.

In 1985, Chief Larry Dibble left the Department to return to Olympia and Jim Shields was appointed by the City of Poulsbo and Fire Districts 17 and 18 as the new Chief. The budgets had been increased until in 1986 the Department consisted of the paid Chief, Jim Shields, one Assistant Chief, Bob Lord, in charge of support services which includes the medical units (he is also a paramedic), three Paramedics, Chris Morrison, George Epperly, and Jeff Cowan, one Lieutenant/ Firefighter, Mike Walsh, and two Firefighter/EMTs, Steve Behal and Bob Brooks to complete the medical portion of the force. Additionally, one Fire Marshal, Bob Nordnes, who conducts site plan reviews on new construction and heads the Fire Prevention Bureau, one Fire Inspector, Jerry Cooper, one Firefighter/Mechanic, Eric Quitslund in charge of vehicle maintenance as well as being on call during the days to respond to fire calls, and a secretary, Karen Lord. There are also about 50 volunteers. The organization is now such that the daytime calls are answered by the on-duty medical crew of one paramedic and one firefighter/EMT driving the medic unit. The Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Firefighter/Mechanic and available volunteers respond with the fire engine or rescue unit. Additional equipment, if required, is manned by volunteers. During the nights and weekends when the paid firefighters are not on duty, the paid medic crew responds with the medic unit and the fire trucks are manned by the volunteers. The paid personnel all work out of the main station in downtown Poulsbo. The two satellite stations are manned by volunteers at all times.

In 1986, the list of rolling stock consists of: Station 71 in downtown Poulsbo: (2) medic vehicles, each fully equipped and capable of transporting up to four patients; (2) 1,500 gallon per minute pumper engines with full hose bed load and other equipment; (1) 1,600 gallon tank truck to haul water to a fire; (1) rescue vehicle fitted with a multitude of equipment and extrication tools, portable pumps, and inflatable boat suitable for marine rescue. Further, there are staff cars consisting of the Chief's command car; Assistant Chief's medical command car with some medical equipment; Fire Marshal's car with investigative equipment; Fire Inspector's car, and one utility vehicle.

Station 72 at Surfrest Park: (1) fire engine of 1,250 gallon per minute capacity and 500 gallon water tank; and (1) 1600 gallon water tanker truck. Station 2 has two vehicle bays, a small kitchen, day room and two bedrooms.

Station 73 on Clear Creek: (1) 1,000 gallon per minute fire engine or pumper, and one 1,250 gallon tanker. Station 3 has three vehicle bays, small office and restroom.
Kitsap County Fire District #3: A third medic unit operated cooperatively with Fire District 3 (Keyport) is also available for medical calls and as a transport vehicle for non-life threatening medical incidents.

The Poulsbo Fire Department receives most of the alerts through CenCom via radio except for an occasional case when a citizen calls the station to report a fire or medical emergency, or where a patient is brought to the Poulsbo station for aid. By pre-arrangement, when CenCom receives an emergency call they alert stations and vehicles appropriate to the type of incident. An auto accident usually is answered by the medic unit, rescue unit, a command unit, and one fire engine. Depending on the location of the accident, the aid unit stationed in Keyport may also be dispatched. In the case of a small brush fire, the dispatcher at CenCom would notify Station 1 and the closest outlying station. However, should there be a reported structure fire, such as a house, school, or commercial structure, the dispatcher would notify all three stations for response. It is at times like this and during the nights and weekends that the list of volunteers is called and performs a most necessary community service. Without these volunteers the Poulsbo Fire Department, including District 18 outside Poulsbo, would require full-time fire personnel on the pay roll, a cost that cannot be funded.

In 1988 a joint operating agreement was signed by the now consolidated Board of Commissioners and the Poulsbo City Council to fund the department 50/50; although the paid staff would be city employees, responders were responsible for both the city and the district.
Over the next few years more firefighters and paramedics were hired in addition to two more administrative support personnel. By 1997, there were three shifts of six, with minimum staffing of four per shift, each shift having a captain and two paramedics and four firefighter/EMTs. The department had now been converted from a few paid staff augmenting the volunteers to a few volunteers augmenting the paid staff.

In 1998 serious talks began regarding annexing the City of Poulsbo into Kitsap County Fire District #18. By this time the City of Poulsbo was ready to retire from the business of fire and the fire department was ready to be managed by one entity, not two. The balancing act had become increasingly difficult and both sides agreed it was far better for the citizens if the district took over the department. A campaign was launched and in November 1999, 86 percent of the City of Poulsbo citizens as well as 86 percent of the KCFD #18 citizens voted "YES!" to annexation. As soon as the election was certified, all the equipment converted over to district ownership, as did the headquarters station. In January of 2000, the employees of the department became, for the first time in its history, solely district employees.

The history of Poulsbo Fire Department is long and colorful. As we continue into the future, every one of us will continue to carry out our responsibilities with pride and the level of professionalism the citizens of Poulsbo and District #18 deserve.

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