West Pierce Fire & Rescue

Area Served[]

Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3, operating as West Pierce Fire & Rescue (WPFR), provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the cities of Lakewood and University Place, as well as contracted services to the Town of Steilacoom, along with some small unincorporated areas, all located in the south Puget Sound region of Pierce County, approximately 40 miles south of the City of Seattle and 25 miles north of the state capital, Olympia, in western Washington State. Combined, the district encompasses an area covering 31 square miles, and serves a population of approximately 100,651 inhabitants. Pierce County is named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. WPFR is governed by a Board of five elected officials, Fire Commissioners, who serve six-year terms.

Mutual Aid[]

West Pierce Fire & Rescue has mutual aid agreements with, among others, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, the DuPont Fire Department (Washington), East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One, Graham Fire & Rescue (Washington), Orting Valley Fire & Rescue, the Tacoma Fire Department (Washington), and Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fire & Emergency Services.

Department Profile[]

West Pierce Fire & Rescue is budgeted for 186 full time personnel, working out of six fire stations, and providing structural fire and wildfire suppression, emergency medical services and transport, technical rescue, water and dive rescue, hazardous materials response, emergency management and preparedness, fire prevention, inspections, code enforcement, fire investigation, and community risk reduction education to the citizens of the district. Every WPFR firefighter is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and nearly one quarter are licensed paramedics. In 2023, WPFR responded to 17,809 calls for service, approximately 80% of which were medical related.

History[]

At a special election held on August 26, 1944, voters in the University Place area approved the formation of Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3 with 127 “yes” votes to 2 “no” votes. The district was established by the Pierce County Commissioners on September 11, 1944.^[1]^[2]

Following petition from residents within the district, Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 19 merged with Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3 on November 9, 1965.^[3]

On September 17, 1991, voters rejected the annexation of the City of Fircrest into Fire District 3 with 882 "yes" votes to 1,159 "no" votes.^[4]

On September 19, 1995, voters approved the annexation of the City of University Place into Fire District No. 3 with a combined 11,778 "yes" votes to 810 "no" votes.^[5]

On February 8, 2011, voters approved the merger of Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 2 (Lakewood) into Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3 (University Place) with 8,476 "yes" votes to 1,861 "no" votes.^[6] The merger was finalized on March 1, 2011 under the name West Pierce Fire & Rescue. In 2012, the Town of Steilacoom began contracting services from West Pierce Fire & Rescue.

Fire Stations[]

Station	Address	In Service	Notes
20	10928 Pacific Highway Southwest, Lakewood	2011-Present	Former Fire District 2 Station 20.
21	5000 Steilacoom Boulevard SW, Lakewood	2011-Present	Former Fire District 2 Station 21.
22	8517 Washington Boulevard Southwest, Lakewood	2011-Present	Former Fire District 2 Station 22.
23	14505 Grant Avenue Southwest, Lakewood	2011-Present	Former Fire District 2 Station 23.
24	8310 87th Avenue Southwest, Lakewood	2011-Present	Former Fire District 2 Station 24.
31	3631 Drexler Drive, University Place	2002-Present	Former Fire District 3 Station 31.
32	7909 40th Street West, University Place	1957-2014	3 bays built in 1957. 2 additional bays added in 1966. Administartive and crew quarters added in 1981. Sold Aug. 7, 2014.^[7]

Apparatus Roster[]

All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
Washington license plate denoted by WA#.

Fire Station 20 - 10928 Pacific Highway SW, Lakewood[]

8 Personnel

Engine 20 - 2017 Spartan ERV Gladiator ELFD (1500/500/30F) (SN#215199-01) (WA#C4389C)
Rescue 20 - 2022 Rosenbauer Commander R7824 6x4 walk-around (SN#42541) (WA#74082D)
Medic 20 (ALS) - 2024 Ford F-450 4x4 / 2015 Braun Northwest / 2024 Braun Northwest remount Type I (SO#855-R)
Squad 20 (Wildland/Low Acuity Response) - 200? Ford F-550 4x4 walk-around (WA#A1797C) (Ex-Steilacoom Public Safety)
Battalion 20 - 2022 Ram 2500 4x4 w/ ARE canopy

Fire Station 21 - 5000 Steilacoom Boulevard SW, Lakewood[]

5 Personnel

Engine 21 - 2010 Pierce Contender (1500/500/25F) (SN#22587) (Ex-Engine 31) (Ex-Steilacoom Public Safety) (Only used when staffing permits)
Ladder 21 - 2022 Rosenbauer Commander R6511 (1500/300/109' Viper rear-mount) (SN#7635) (WA#D4918C)
Medic 21 (ALS) - 2024 Ford F-450 4x4 / 2016 Braun Northwest / 2024 Braun Northwest remount Type I (SO#856-R)
Air/Light 21 - 2012 Isuzu box truck
Hazmat 21 - 2020 Ram 3500HD 4x4 towing 2020 Quest trailer
Engine 215 (Training) - 1993 Pierce Arrow (1500/500)
Engine 216 (Training) - 1991 Pierce Lance (1500/500) (SN#E6242) (WA#19076C) (Ex-Engine 312, ex-Engine 22)
Ladder 219 (Reserve) - 2008 E-One Cyclone II (2000/300/100' rear-mount) (WA#84462C) (Ex-Ladder 21)
Command Chief 251 -
Command Chief 301 -
Command Chief 302 -
Command Chief 303 -
Command Chief 304 -
Command Chief 305 -
Command Chief 306 -
Command Chief 307 -
Command Chief 308 -
Command Chief 309 -
Command Chief 310 -
Command Chief 311 -
Command Chief 312 -
Command Chief 313 -
Command Chief 314 -
Command Chief 315 -
Command Chief 316 -
Command Chief 317 -
Command Chief 318 -
Command Chief 319 -
Command Chief 320 -
Fire Marshal 326 -
Fire Marshal 328 -
CHAP 328 -
CHAP 329 -

Fire Station 22 - 8517 Washington Boulevard SW, Lakewood[]

5 Personnel

Engine 22 - 2024 Rosenbauer Commander (1500/500/30F)
Medic 22 (ALS) - 2024 Ford F-450 4x4 / 2016 Braun Northwest / 2024 Braun Northwest remount Type I (SO#857-R)
Dive 22 - 2003 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue walk-in (WA#49651C) (Ex-Fire District 2)
Marine 22 - Lee Shore Boats 16’ Silverheels fire-rescue / Honda 90HP outboard on single-axle trailer

Fire Station 23 - 14505 Grant Avenue SW, Lakewood[]

3 Personnel

Engine 23 - 2018 Spartan ERV Gladiator ELFD (1500/500/30F) (SN#217141-01)

Fire Station 24 - 8310 87th Avenue SW, Lakewood[]

5 Personnel

Engine 24 - 2022 Rosenbauer Commander (1500/500/30F) (WA#D4916C)
Medic 24 (ALS) - 2021 Ram 4500 4x4 / Braun Northwest Type I 171" module (SO#3307-1) (WA#D1825C)
Aid 24 (BLS) - 2019 Ram 4500 4x4 / Braun Northwest Type I 171" module (SO#2916-1) (Ex-Medic 21)

Fire Station 31 (Headquarters) - 3631 Drexler Drive, University Place[]

11 Personnel

Engine 31 - 2022 Rosenbauer Commander (1500/500/30F) (WA#D4917C) (Ex-Engine 22)
Squad 31 (Wildland/Low Acuity Response) - 2022 Ford F-550 4x4 / Cascade Fire Type 6 wildland (250/400/20A)
Medic 31 (ALS) - 2022 Ford F-450 4x4 / 2015 Braun Northwest / 2022 Braun Northwest remount Type I (SO#748-R)
Battalion 31 - 2022 Ram 2500 4x4 w/ ARE canopy
Engine 32 - 2018 Spartan ERV Gladiator ELFD (1500/500/30F) (SN#217141-02)

Fleet Services - 9410 39th Avenue Court SW, Lakewood[]

Other Stations[]

Narrows Marina - 9007 South 19th Street, Tacoma[]

Fire Boat "Endeavor" - 2013 Moose Boats M2 37' twin diesel jet drive catamaran (2x1000/-)

American Lake - 9222 Veterans Drive SW, Lakewood[]

Marine 23 - fire/rescue boat (2) Mercury 150HP outboards

Assignment Unknown[]

2021 Ram 4500 4x4 / Braun Northwest Type I 171" module ambulance (SO#3306-1) (WA#D1824C) (Ex-Medic 22)
2021 Ram 4500 4x4 / Braun Northwest Type I 171" module ambulance (SO#3305-1) (WA#D1823C) (Ex-Medic 20)
2010 Spartan Gladiator / Crimson pumper (1500/500/25F) (Ex-Fire District 2) (Ex-Engine 24)
2008 Spartan Gladiator / Crimson pumper (1500/500/30F) (WA#77788C) (Ex-Engine 31, ex-Engine 20) (Ex-Fire District 2)
2007 Chevrolet C4500 / Road Rescue ambulance (Ex-Fire District 2) (Ex-Medic 22)
2006 Freightliner M2 106 / Hesse walk-around rescue (Ex-Rescue 20) (Ex-Fire District 2)
2002 Pierce Dash rescue-pumper / 2022 Hughes Fire Equipment refurb (1500/500) (SN#13707) (Ex-Engine 311)
Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (Ex-Squad 21)

Out Of Service[]

2010 Spartan Gladiator / Crimson pumper (1500/500/25F) (Ex-Fire District 2) (Ex-Engine 22) (Getting refurbished at Firetrucks Unlimited)

Retired Apparatus[]

2016 International TerraStar / Braun Northwest Type I 174" module ambulance (SO#2202-1) (WA#A9658C) (Ex-Medic 31)
2016 International TerraStar / Braun Northwest Type I 174" module ambulance (SO#2201-1) (Ex-Medic 21, ex-Medic 24)
2015 International TerraStar / Braun Northwest ambulance (Ex-Medic 22)
2015 International TerraStar / Braun Northwest ambulance (Ex-Medic 20)
2010 Ford E-450 / Braun Northwest ambulance (Ex-Medic 24)
2007 Chevrolet C4500 / Road Rescue ambulance (Ex-Medic 31) (Ex-Fire District 2)
2007 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor command (WA#77790C) (Ex-Battalion 20) (Sold to Pierce County Fire District 13)
2006 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal aerial (-/-/100' rear-mount) (WA#69570C) (Ex-Ladder 219) (Ex-Fire District 2)
2003 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue ambulance (Ex-Fire District 2) (first configuration)
2002 Ford E-450 / North Star ambulance (Ex-Medic 331) (Sold to Pierce County Fire District 13)
1999 Dodge Journey fire prevention
1998 Ford Expedition command (Ex-Command 345)
1997 Ford E-350 / Mobile Medical ambulance (Ex-Medic 332)
1993 Ford E-350 ambulance (Ex-Medic 333)
1989 GMC Brigadier / Hesse walk-around hazmat (Ex-Hazmat 21) (Ex-Fire District 2)
1987 Chevrolet C30 4x4 w/ cap (Ex-Utility 344) (Ex-Fire District 2)
1983 Sutphen aerial (1500/?/65' mid-mount) (Ex-Ladder 321) (Sold to DuPont Fire Department (Washington))
195? Ford F-850 / Roney pumper

External Links[]

West Pierce Fire & Rescue

References[]

↑ Board of County Commissioners (1944). Resolution #1692. Pierce County Legislation Search.
↑ Board of County Commissioners (1944). Resolution #1714. Pierce County Legislation Search.
↑ Board of County Commissioners (1965). Resolution #10900. Pierce County Legislature Search.
↑ Proposition No. 1. The News Tribune. Sep. 18, 1991 (Page 25). Newspapers.com.
↑ Pierce County Auditor's Office (1995). September 19, 1995 Primary Election Results (Pages 3 & 4). Pierce County Past Elections.
↑ Pierce County Auditor's Office (2011). February 8, 2011 Special Election Results. Pierce County Past Elections.
↑ Pierce County Assessor's Office (2014). Excise Tax Affadavit File #4347068. Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal - Parcel Search.

Station Map[]

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[1] Board of County Commissioners (1944). Resolution #1692. Pierce County Legislation Search.

[2] Board of County Commissioners (1944). Resolution #1714. Pierce County Legislation Search.

[3] Board of County Commissioners (1965). Resolution #10900. Pierce County Legislature Search.

[4] Proposition No. 1. The News Tribune. Sep. 18, 1991 (Page 25). Newspapers.com.

[5] Pierce County Auditor's Office (1995). September 19, 1995 Primary Election Results (Pages 3 & 4). Pierce County Past Elections.

[6] Pierce County Auditor's Office (2011). February 8, 2011 Special Election Results. Pierce County Past Elections.

[7] Pierce County Assessor's Office (2014). Excise Tax Affadavit File #4347068. Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal - Parcel Search.

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