By Marianne Lincoln For many years, I have been working within the Chambers-Clover Watershed called WRIA 12. During this flooding event, life in WRIA 12 has been fairly normal. The creeks are slowing but not topping their banks or flooding neighborhoods. Just down the hill, it is a very different story. The warm rain event…
Category: Fire Dept
Oct 11 Fire Dept. Open House
Learn how you can CHARGE into Fire Safety at our Fire Prevention Week Open House on October 11th, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Station 60. Event by Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, 17520 22nd Ave E, Tacoma, WA 98445-4444. Visitors will be invited to visit different community partners we have in lithium-ion battery…
Stage 2 burn ban in place for Pierce County
A Stage 2 burn ban is in place in Pierce County effective immediately. The Pierce County Fire Marshal, in partnership with local fire chiefs, has declared the Stage 2 burn ban in response to dry conditions on the ground and ongoing fires in western Washington. The elevated burn ban will remain in effect until conditions…
Cantwell Legislation to Modernize Nation’s Weather Radio System
Nation’s Weather Radio System to Deliver Real-Time Emergency Alerts – Passes Committee Bills would allow National Weather Service radio alerts to reach 98-99% of the United States; upgrade 17 weather stations in the State of Washington Full Senate to consider the legislation at a later date following today’s unanimous vote WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National…
May is “Wildfire Awareness Month”
County Council Proclaims May as Wildfire Awareness Month and Invitation to Participate in Wildfire Ready Neighbors Pierce County, WA – The Pierce County Council issued a proclamation at its May 2nd meeting announcing May as “Wildfire Awareness Month.” The proclamation underscores how wildfire risk and severity in Western Washington is increasing, along with the need…
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue hosting Santa visits
Many of us remember Santa riding on a fire truck through our streets for days before Christmas, passing out candy canes to children who spotted him. The fire district has grown significantly since then and the task is time consuming. Our firefighters have found a solution. They will tour Santa on specific routes in each…
Firework use will be limited in unincorporated Pierce County starting in 2023
PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Starting in 2023 the discharge of fireworks in Pierce County’s unincorporated areas will be restricted to July 4 and Dec. 31 only. That’s according to new legislation passed this week by the Pierce County Council. Additionally, starting in 2023 the Pierce County Fire Marshal will have the authority, in consultation with…
Aug. 30 Public Safety Meeting
PIERCE COUNTY — On Monday, August 30, 2021, 6 p.m., the Pierce County Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold its meeting in Frederickson at the new Cross Park meeting site. That is located at 4420 Military Road East. Presentations include the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management sharing about emergency management and response in Pierce…
June 25, burn ban begins in unincorporated Pierce County
A county-wide burn ban in Pierce County is announced effective at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2021, until further notice. The Pierce County Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association, has declared a county-wide burn ban. This ban is due to current and predicted dry weather conditions. The burn ban…
Fire Training at house on new Bethel High site
Graham Fire and Rescue has been training at the home at 23009 70th Ave E., Graham, WA 98338. It is conveniently across the street from the fire station on 70th Avenue. This is a house that needs to be removed from Bethel School District owned property before the new bond-funded Bethel High School can be built. Graham Fire…
Central Pierce F&R Public Meeting Feb. 3
CENTRAL PIERCE FIRE AND RESCUE — A Special Board Meeting/Public Hearing on the proposed Capital Facility Plan has been scheduled for February 3rd, 5:00 p.m., at District Headquarters, 17520 22nd Avenue East, Tacoma, WA 98445. Additional information can be found at this link to their webpage. At this public hearing the Board of Commissioners will…
Planning Commission considers huge land use changes in unincorporated areas
Controversial land use changes to the Frederickson, Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, South Hill and Mid-County (Summit, Waller, North Clover Creek Collins) areas are progressing through the formal process of adoption in Pierce County. These changes involve housing and business uses, but not an accompanying infrastructure plan. Therefore the communities, already overcrowded for urban growth that has…
Central Pierce Proposition 1
You’re calling 911 because you have a medical emergency in your home. You live two blocks from the fire station, but it takes 20 minutes for the paramedics to arrive from a station 5 miles away. What happened? Chances are your local fire crew was tied up at another emergency call. That is happening about…
October 6 is ABC Day at Bethel High
ABC Day is All Bethel (School District) Community Day. Over the past 10 plus years, it has become a very popular event for the community to come to that year’s high school to see what is going on in the c=-schools and around the community. Community groups come out and show what they offer to…
Burn Ban Begins July 12, 2018
Pierce County is under a burn ban officially today, July 12, 2018. From the county website: Countywide burn ban in Pierce County begins Thursday, July 12 Due to dry weather, both now and in forecasts, Pierce County’s Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association, has declared a countywide burn ban effective…
Countywide burn ban to begin July 15
Pierce County Fire Marshal Warner Webb has announced a countywide burn ban effective Saturday, July 15 at 8 a.m., until further notice. The limited ban was prompted by long-range forecasts of continued lack of precipitation, issued jointly with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The burn ban applies…
Fir Meadows and Oxbow flooding in Pioneer Valley
By Marianne Lincoln Flooding continues to plague the Pioneer Valley area in Spanaway/Frederickson. Fir Meadows, which was built in 1968, has closed roads and swift water flowing in from the flooded playfield near the railroad tracks on Knoble Road. Electric vaults are underwater, yet people are still driving through the closed signs and even wading…
Feb. 13 Graham Fire Commissioners Meeting
GRAHAM, WA — On February 13, 2017, the continuing story of Fire District 21, will add another chapter. Currently, the Fire Chief, Ryan Baskett is on paid administrative leave pending investigation of the questions the union raised. The President of IAFF Local 726, Russ Karns, has left the position for an Assistant Chief position at…
Chief Baskett of Graham Fire will take administrative leave
GRAHAM, WA — The January 23rd Graham Fire District Commissioners meeting was a lively, and occasionally raucous public event. There were a few brief minutes of procedural agenda items, including Chief Baskett explaining a ladder truck was damaged when the gate of a local closed on it and another truck had ladder damage from a…
IAFF Local 726 takes issue with Graham Fire Chief
GRAHAM, WA — Monday, January 9, 2017, at the Graham Fire District commissioners meeting, it was revealed that the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 726, which represents the fire fighters in Graham (also Central Pierce and Orting) had prepared a list of grievances against the Fire Chief of District 21, Ryan Baskett. Local…