RESCHEDULED:  The Board of Fire Commissioners of Anderson Island Fire/Rescue will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, from 9:30 AM through 4:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to examine current department policy in conjunction with legislation impacts for 2019.

This meeting will be held at the Anderson Island Fire/Rescue station, located at 2207 Lake Josephine Blvd., Anderson Island, WA.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
PIERCE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 27
ANDERSON ISLAND

Please note that regularly scheduled Board of Fire Commissioners meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at 3:00 p.m. in the station for Anderson Island Fire/Rescue.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for a memorable evening. At Anderson Island Fire/Rescue, we are honored to serve you and our community.

Annual Volunteer Firefighter Recognition Banquet.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Social time: 6:00 – 6:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Cost: $25 per person
RSVP: Ramona (253) 884-4040

The banquet will be held at the Johnson Farm Archival Building, and awards will be presented during the evnt. Delicious catered dinner options include Baron of Beef and Chicken Picata. Seating is limited.

Each year our volunteer firefighters are recognized by the Board of Fire Commissioners for the service, effort, and dedication they offer the department and our community. Awards will be presented to the Firefighter of the Year, EMT of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. Awards are also given that signify work and effort above and beyond the calling of volunteer.

Please call today and reserve your seat to help thank volunteer firefighters for serving our community.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
PIERCE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 27
ANDERSON ISLAND

Please note that regularly scheduled Board of Fire Commissioners meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the station for Anderson Island Fire/Rescue.

The Anderson Island Fire Department is giving away detectors with a 10-year battery.  We can either install them for you, which takes about 15-30 minutes depending on your home design, or we can drop them off at your Island residence whenever you are ready to receive them.  They can also be picked up at the fire department office at your leisure during business hours.

Please help the fire department protect you and your loved ones with these life-saving devices.  You may be thinking you already have detectors.  How old are they?  Over 10 years old?  Detectors, both battery-operated and hard-wired models drastically lose their effectiveness after 10 years.  Are the batteries really working in that detector 17 feet up on the vaulted ceiling?  Let us come and help you out with the chirping detector.  It is better to call us now than disconnect the detector from its mounted location, removing the battery and leaving it on the kitchen counter.  Don’t wait for a house fire to remind you to call for your detectors.  The life you save may be your own.  Call us at (253) 884-4040.

                           2017 Ballot Measure

 ¨ This proposition would authorize issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $995,000 for the purpose of constructing and equipping living quarters, constructing a storage area, and acquiring other capital facilities.  With this Bond we plan to complete the following:

à Upgrade existing storage building into living quarters to house resident firefighters;

à Upgrade front concrete apron to accommodate the increased weight of modern fire & rescue equipment;

à Pave the rear station and training area to reduce wear & tear on our fire hoses and couplers;

à Update our Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to the current safety standards;

à Construct a new storage area large enough to house our additional response equipment, including our reserve fire boat.

¨ Lower Tax Rate!  In 2016, a previous Bond for the District was retired. It was set at $.45 per thousand. The new bond would be asking for $.44 per thousand. As the assessed value of the District increases, our bond rate per thousand of assessed value decreases.

¨ The bonds will be payable from annual excess property tax levies for up to 10 years. The annual excess property tax will be approximately $88.00 per year on a $200,000 home in 2018, which equals approximately $7.33 per month.

¨ Volunteer firefighter ranks are at an all-time low. We do not have the budget to hire full-time firefighter/EMTs but need to continue providing quality fire protection and medical care. If we converted our present storage building into living quarters, college students and/or firefighter/EMT students could live at the station in exchange for responding to calls on their time off. We could then construct new dry storage for our vehicles and marine rescue equipment.

¨ In the last several years we have lost 41% of our volunteers, even with our recruiting efforts, and we struggle to provide the kind of service our residents need and deserve.

¨ Although we have continued to replace and upgrade equipment with high-quality used equipment from other sources we have insufficient reserves and need to upgrade our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and bunker gear.

¨ Our Firefighters/EMT’s volunteer much of their time at a cost to family and often to employers.  We owe them the best possible equipment and recruiting support that these enhancements will allow us to provide.

¨ We take our responsibility to our Island residents very seriously and strive to provide the best and most professional service to you all with smart financial decisions in mind.

¨ Please contact Chief Jim Bixler at (253) 884-4040 or jbixler@pcfd27.com with any questions.

Everyday People Like You!!

Have you ever thought of becoming a volunteer firefighter? 

Anderson Island Fire/Rescue is always looking for people who are interested in becoming part of a special team.  Enjoy a rewarding experience and make new friendships, all while serving the community you live in and protecting your neighbors.  No experience is necessary… and all volunteers will receive the equipment and training required for the job at no cost to you.  Our volunteer firefighters provide fire and EMS services to people on the island 24/7.  We would love for you to become a part of our team.

                  Benefits include:  Attendance stipend, pension, life insurance, and airlift insurance.

We also have a cadet program for ages 16-18.  Our cadet firefighters train with regular volunteer firefighters; however, they are limited in what they can do.  Labor and Industries laws state a member under the age of 18 will not be place in a live fire situation or climb a ladder past 8’ high.

Please call or visit the station for more information and to get your volunteer application.  You’re welcome to come and attend our drill as well.  We hold regular drills on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm – 9:00 pm.  We look forward to seeing you!

“This week Chief Bixler, Asst. Chief Wiggins, and the Commissioners of Pierce County Fire District 27 hosted a dinner to honor the volunteers of Anderson Island Fire & Rescue at the Lakeshore restaurant. It was a well-attended event and we were treated to two video slide presentations of past and present activities of our wonderful volunteers.

We citizens know that when we have any life threatening emergency and call 911 these brave and professional volunteers arrive swiftly, and expertly carry out whatever task is required to preserve life and limb. We know that when there is an island emergency like power outages, downed trees & lines, brush fires, etc. the volunteers again show up without fail no matter the time of day or night and help get us islanders back up and running.

What we don’t really know but perhaps can only guess about is that none of this “just happens”. It is not an accident that we are so blessed. The amount of time and dedication we see in emergencies is dwarfed by the amount of training and practice time and dedication these dedicated public servants put in to be so prepared when they are needed.

By attending only an occasional drill night I have observed first-hand how professional and dedicated our volunteers are. The Chiefs have developed systems that allow the volunteers themselves to do the lion’s share of the training. Our officers attend classes to learn how to train and what to train. And on drill nights it is the officers and in house trainers that bring their knowledge and experience to the volunteers, who are deadly serious about learning and practicing.

Every single Tuesday night and many, many weekends you can find our volunteers laboring to increase their professionalism and knowledge. All of them do this “in addition” to their full time jobs that pay their rent. But I dare say that their hearts are always with Anderson Island Fire and Rescue!

One more thing… What us citizens also may not realize is that since 2008, each year the revenue base available from the levies has dropped due to the drops in property values. The Chief and his entire team have “made do” with a little less each year, and yet have managed never to miss a beat. 

I am proud to be associated with these fine people. It is a great team. Thank you Jim, Jay, Julie, Amy, and volunteers!”

Dave Albertson, Commissioner, position 2

Commissioner’s Corner: By Dave Albertson, Commissioner, Anderson Island Fire and Rescue (Dist. 27)

I am your commissioner elected last year, now in my second year of a six year term. Having had the opportunity to work with our other two Commissioners (Chairman Dale Porterfield and Commissioner Colleen Adler), our Fire Chief Jim Bixler, Assistant Chief Jay Wiggins, and admin assistant Julie Harter, and having watched our volunteers faithfully perform a variety of safety services including attendance at weekly training drills while we all watch our favorite TV shows, and breaking their legs attending to actual fires, I am very proud to be a part of this stellar team. I appreciate the trust the island residents have placed in myself and the rest of the team, and am doing my very best to live up to that trust.

What if I need an air medical transport off the island? Will it cost me $thousands if I have to be air medically transported off the island? Should I have an Airlift Northwest “AirCare” membership package?

The question has come up regarding whether an island resident should obtain an “AirCare” membership package from Airlift Northwest, in case they needed to be flown off the island for emergency medical attention. There are misconceptions. So we have reviewed the facts with Airlift Northwest and hope that the following information will help you decide whether you should have the AirCare membership package. (1 year household package - $79)

1. To purchase an Airlift AirCare membership package you must also already have your own health insurance coverage, whether your health insurance coverage is provided by your employer, personally paid by you, obtain through the State Exchange Programs (Obamacare), or Medicare and Medicare supplemental. Airlift Northwest will not sell an AirCare membership package to you without health insurance coverage that includes air medical transport benefits.

2. The purpose of the AirCare membership is to cover the patient responsibility amount indicated by the insurance company’s explanation of benefit for all emergent and medically necessary air medical transport services that are provided to the closest most appropriate facility. In some cases your own health insurance will actually cover the entire cost of the air medical transport. In such cases you do not need the AirCare membership package. For example, individuals that have health insurance with Medicaid should not apply because air medical transports are fully covered. My own Medicare and supplemental healthcare through United Health care covers me completely so I do not need the AirCare membership package.

3. In other cases it will not. Each resident should evaluate what their own health insurance will cover. For example, if you have Medicare your coverage could leave you with anywhere from $200 to $2,000 uncovered, and if you are air medically transported, your out of pocket cost will be the amount your personal coverage does not cover. In those cases an AirCare membership package could save you a lot of money should you need to be air medically transported off the island for emergency medical care. You can get the AirCare membership application at the fire station.

We have a complete 3 page Airlift NW fact sheet that you can pick up at the station if you have further questions.