About South Bay Fire Department
We are a volunteer based department serving the areas of Johnson Point and South
Bay in northern Thurston County.
What is now known as the South Bay Volunteer Fire Department was formed by a group
of neighbors in April of 1953. The concerned volunteers began with 35 members and
a loaned 1939 Ford pick-up truck with a pressurized water tank in the back. The
school bus barn at the old South Bay School served as the first fire station and
volunteers responded to a grand total of 15 fire calls that year.
Today the South Bay Fire Department is made up of over 35 volunteers and four paid
staff, administered by a Board of Fire Commissioners. Our district serves over 7,500
residents within its 23 square mile area and our call volume exceeds 600 calls per
year. Volunteers respond from three fire stations in the district, each housing
a pumper, water tender and rescue unit.
In Memory Of Greg Thompson
Stage 1 Burn Ban
A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for Thurston County effective 5 p.m. today (Feb. 3, 2012) and continuing through the weekend.
Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.
A system of stable, high pressure over the South Puget Sound region, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until sometime next week at the earliest.
While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage 1 Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.
Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:
• If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit
• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org.
For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.
Board of Fire Commissioners' Meetings
Regular Board meetings are held on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, beginning at 7:30 am. Evening meetings are quarterly on the 2nd Thursday of the month, beginning at 6 pm. All meetings are held at Station 8-1.
2012 Schedule
Feb 13 (8:30 am); Feb 23 (pm); March 8 & 22 (am); April 12 & 26 (am): May 10 (pm); May 24 (am); June 14 & 28 (am); July 12 & 26 (am); Aug 9 (pm); Aug 23 (am); Sept 6 & 20 (am); Oct 9 & 23 (am); Nov 8 (pm); Nov 21 (am); Dec 6 & 20 (am)
Note: Meetings are subject to change. Notice of change will be posted on this site and at the meeting location.
Winter Safety Spotlight: Carbon Monoxide
Each year in America, more than 150 people die from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products. These products include faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and fireplaces.
The U.S. Fire Administration would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes. Please read and follow the safety tips below.
Exposing an Invisible Killer: The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Each year in America, more than 150 people die from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products. These products include faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and fireplaces. Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
Understanding the Risk
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.
What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?
What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.
If no one is feeling ill:
Silence the alarm.
Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.
If illness is a factor:
Evacuate all occupants immediately.
Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
Call your local emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning
Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.
For information on Portable Generator Hazards, click here:
Portable Generator Hazards
Consider Alternatives to Burning of Storm Debris
With the passing of last week's storms, western Washington now faces the daunting task of cleaning up.
The heavy snow and ice storms resulted in hundreds of downed trees and broken limbs throughout the region. Rather than trying to burn that wet, green wood, however, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages residents to find clean, safe alternative means of disposal. Chipping, composting and curbside picking of yard waste where available are reasonable alternatives. ORCAA maintains lists of other options for residents of each of its six counties on its website,www.orcaa.org
ORCAA also reminds residents that outdoor burning is prohibited year-round for most Washington cities and the cities' Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries. In the unincorporated areas of counties where burning may be allowed, residents are encouraged to, at a minimum, delay the burning of woody storm debris. Cut and stack the woody debris to allow it to dry thoroughly before burning.
The trees and limbs that came down as a result of the storms this month is wet and mostly likely green. That means that woody debris will not burn cleanly, resulting in excessive smoke and fine particular matter (PM2.5) air pollution.
Likewise, that wood is not suitable for use in wood stoves or fire places this winter. If residents do have storm debris that's potentially useable in their home heating appliances, it should be cut into useable lengths, split and stacked under cover now so it can dry and cure for last least 9 months before use next fall. Clean, dry firewood produces little or no smoke when burned properly, while wet wood produces substantial smoke as much of the fire's heat is used to dry the wood enough for combustion.
Just because you can burn doesn’t mean you should
Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year.
Where outdoor burning is allowed, residents must remember the only material they may legally burn is natural vegetation gathered on site. State law prohibits the burning of garbage and home-repair debris. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.
Unregulated outdoor burning of any kind can contribute to poor air quality, but burning garbage and other debris—even scraps of milled wood products—is particularly problematic. Most household garbage contains a great deal of plastics, chemicals, coatings and chemically treated materials. When burned, this garbage and waste material releases toxic fumes and particles into the air. This pollution can cause disease ranging from eye and respiratory irritation to potential cancers.
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages all residents to explore options such as chipping of woody debris, and composting of leaves and brush clippings rather than burning. Find additional information at www.orcaa.org
FREE CPR CLASSES
The South Bay Fire Department is pleased to offer free CPR classes at our main station 81 located at 3506 Shincke Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506
Classes are held on Wednesdays, 7 pm – 10 pm and are taught by instructor Ron Wertz.
Current Schedule:
January 11, 2012; January 25, 2012: February 8, 2012; February 22, 2012; March 14, 2012; March 21, 2012
Call Medic One at (360) 704-2780 to register for this free class or for further information.
(Note: If you would like information on FIRST AID classes, contact Medic One)
We hope the information provided on this site will help you learn more about
our Department and our members. Please contact us if there are any questions concerning
the Department or its activities.
Where to Go From Here
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