All of our firefighters at Central Pierce Fire & Rescue are EMT-certified, which means they can respond to both fire and basic life support medical calls. All our engines and ladder trucks carry emergency medical equipment. Additionally, some medical emergencies require more than two personnel, which is the standard staffing for every medic unit. This additional personnel from the fire engine allows for a greater level of service to be provided to our community in their time of medical need.
All of our firefighters at Central Pierce Fire & Rescue are EMT-certified, which means they can respond to both fire and basic life support (BLS) medical calls. BLS medical calls are non-life-threatening emergencies that do not require advanced life support (ALS). These calls normally include low-level falls, minor injuries, mild allergic reactions, and illnesses without severe symptoms. When a 911 call comes through, dispatch determines if it’s a BLS call or an ALS call. When the call is determined to be BLS an engine or ladder truck are dispatched and can call a medic unit if the call is more severe.
Firefighters break out windows and cut holes in the roof during a fire to ventilate the building. As a fire burns, it generally moves upward, then outward. Ventilating stops the outward damaging movement of the fire and enables firefighters to fight more efficiently.
We block multiple lanes during auto accidents to create a safe working environment for emergency responders and the people involved in the accident.
Blocking off multiple lanes allows for firefighters, medic units, and police to have a safe space to work and operate efficiently. It also helps slow traffic, reducing the risk of another accident.
Driving over a fire hose can damage the hose. In Washington state, it is illegal to drive over any fire hose at the scene of an emergency without the consent of the fire department official in command.
We ensure that there are no weeds and bushes around fire hydrants so they are visible and easily accessible during an emergency.
You can report a leaking or broken fire hydrant to your local water company, as they are responsible for maintaining fire hydrants. If the leak is causing flooding or is causing a hazard, please call the Pierce County non-emergency line at 253-287-4455.
We do not have volunteers at Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. If you are looking to volunteer, we suggest Riverside Fire Department or Browns Pt/Dash Pt Fire Department.
If your smoke alarm is chirping, try replacing the batteries in each alarm. If that doesn’t stop the chirping, it may be time to replace all of the alarms (smoke alarms need to be replaced every ten years). If you need help changing your batteries or changing your smoke alarms, please fill out the request form here.
Please note that we cannot replace hard-wired alarms. However, we are happy to bring a battery-operated alarm and put it up until your hard-wired alarm is repaired or replaced by a qualified technician.
Carbon monoxide is often called the invisible killer as it is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of CO.
Please contact the code enforcement office in Pierce County at 253-798-4636 or visit their website at https://www.piercecountywa.gov/1571/Code-Enforcement.
If you live within the City of Puyallup, please contact the City of Puyallup’s code enforcement office at 253-770-3327 or visit their website at https://www.cityofpuyallup.org/321/Code-Enforcement.
We do not fill fire extinguishers. Please contact a certified fire equipment dealer or fire protection agency.
Most major home improvement stores carry fire extinguishers and can help you choose the right type for your home based on your needs.
Firefighters shop at local grocery stores because they work 24 hour shifts and prepare their own meals while on duty. These meals are paid for out of their own pockets.
In Pierce County you can drop off household hazardous waste at one of two county-operated facilities:
Tacoma Transfer Center
3510 S. Mullen Street, Tacoma
253-502-2100
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hidden Valley Transfer Station
17925 Meridian E, Puyallup
253-847-7555
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday
8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To see a list of everything accepted at these facilities, please click here.
In Pierce County, glass is not collected curbside because the glass shards contaminate the other materials, making it hard to recycle. Click here for a list of glass drop-off locations.
To dispose of a lithium-ion battery, take it to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA 98409.
They are open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 8 AM to 5:30 PM.
For more information, please visit the City of Tacoma Solid Waste Services.
At this time, we’re unable to accommodate individual station tours due to the high demand for emergency response and ongoing training commitments for our firefighters. If you would like to visit one of our fire stations, please click here to see the event calendar for our upcoming open houses.
We do not fill swimming pools on private property. The best way in Pierce County to fill your pool is to use your garden hose or hire a bulk water delivery service.
Please check our social media and website here for job openings. If we are not currently hiring, you can sign up on NEOGOV to get notifications when the job you are searching for becomes available.
Click here to find a location to dispose of old medication in a secure and safe way.
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue offers free car seat inspections in-person via pre-scheduled appointment. If you would like to meet with our Car Seat Technician, please reach out via email to [email protected].
Additionally, you can schedule an appointment with Mary Bridge’s Car Seat Technicians for this service. To schedule an appointment, visit their “Car Seat Check-Ups at Mary Bridge” webpage.
While we understand the concern, we do not respond to calls for cats stuck in trees. Our crews need to stay available for emergencies that involve immediate risks to life, health, or property. Cats often come down on their own. If you are worried, you can contact Canopy Cat Rescue by clicking here.
The International Fire Code states the following:
308.1.4 Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction.
Exceptions:
One- and two-family dwellings.
- Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
- LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 21/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].
However:
The State of Washington, in its code adoption process, excluded this code section from the Fire Code.
Further, the state of Washington added language to IFC 6107.1 to allow, “The use and storage of listed propane fired barbeque grills on R-2 (apartments & condominiums) decks and balconies with an approved container not exceeding a water capacity of 20 pounds (9 kg) that maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches on all sides, unless listed for lesser clearances.”
This shows intent by Washington State law makers not to prohibit the use of gas barbeque grills on apartment decks and balconies at distances of less than 10 feet from combustible construction.
Apartment Management:
Apartment policies and condominium association rules can be more restrictive (and can be disallowed as landlord policy per lease agreement) than the Fire Code. Check with them before placing a barbeque for use.
While 10 feet of separation from combustibles remains a strong guideline, it is recognized that some out-door cooking appliances are designed for safe use with as little as 3 feet of separation.
Bottom line
- Make sure you aren’t violating a lease agreement or rule.
- Do not let outdoor cooking cause heating of any combustible material.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Dispose of all used charcoal in a metal container with tight fitting lid because charcoal can smolder even when you think it is cold.
- Be a good neighbor! Don’t let your outdoor cooking become a nuisance to your neighbors. If the wind is blowing toward their residence or if there is no wind, please take that into consideration before barbecuing.
Patient billing services for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue are provided by Systems Design EMS.
If you have questions about your bill, please contact
Systems Design EMS
PO Box 3510
Silverdale, WA 98383
(800) 585-5242
https://systemsdesignems.com/
[email protected]
For a copy of your incident report complete the appropriate request form by clicking here.