Fire department deployment modifications set for first week of February

Chief Duggan

With the reopening of the Murray Morgan Bridge for traffic, Fire Chief Jim Duggan is announcing service deployment changes, effective the first week of February.

Station 6, located at 1015 E. F St. will close, reducing the number of active fire stations from 16 to 15. The station closure also reduces the number of frontline fire engine (pumper) companies from 14 to 13. (During the 2011-12 biennium, the Tacoma Fire Department staffed 16 frontline fire engine companies.)

On-duty frontline staffing will decrease to 69 personnel from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and to 67 personnel from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (During the 2011-12 biennium, frontline staffing was 74 personnel, 24 hours per day.)

Station 13, located at 3825 N. 25^th St., will return to 24-hour staffing for EMS and ladder company service. Fire engine (pumper) service for the Proctor neighborhood will continue to be provided from Station 14 and Station 9, both located within a four-minute travel time from Station 13, however, Ladder 3 will move from Station 9 to Station 13. 

Chief Duggan explained that, “As an existing efficiency, ladder company firefighters are certified emergency medical technicians and perform the same role as engine (pumper) company firefighters for medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. Moving Ladder 3 to Station 13 will provide two benefits.  First, it improves EMS coverage in high-demand areas along North Pearl Street, and, second, it increases Engine 9’s availability to provide backup coverage for Engine 16 to the west, and Engine 4 and Engine 1 to the east.  The backup coverage to the east has become more important with the closure of Station 6. It is important for the public to know that no single fire station in our system houses all the equipment and firefighters required to suppress even a one-room house fire. Crews from at least five stations converge on a typical fire scene.”

Along with Ladder 3, Station 13 will continue to house the 12-hour Squad 13. Station 9, located at 6^th Avenue, will house Engine 9, Battalion 1, and a turnkey reserve fire engine.

In response to the Tacoma Fire Department’s efforts to mitigate the impact of services reductions, Council Member Anders Ibsen stated, “This is great news for the city and for Council District 1. It’s a true testament to the dedication and creativity of our firefighters.”

Newly appointed District 2 Council Member Robert Thoms also added, “Fire and emergency preparedness is of the utmost importance to the North End. This is a victory for safety.”

The Fire Department Cares Program will launch, providing Tacoma Fire Department personnel with a referral mechanism for people who repeatedly call 911 for health conditions that are not medical emergencies, or for assistance with daily living tasks.

Fireboat Destiny will move from the Thea Foss waterway to the Tacoma Yacht Club until moorage is available at the former Station 5 on Ruston Way, anticipated in late spring 2014.  Personnel from Station 14, located at 4701 N. 41^st St., will cross-staff the fireboat.

Two uniformed personnel assigned to the Training Center will provide additional Port-area EMS response during business hours.  The Tacoma Fire Department training center is located on Marshall Avenue in the heart of the Port area. When available, the 40-hour-per-week training captain and 40-hour-per-week training paramedic will be the first arriving responders to emergency incidents that occur within a four-minute travel time of the Training Center.