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Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
Fire Safety Summit
Special Meeting — September 24, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) Station 6
9193 Rhody Drive, Chimacum, WA 98325
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Heidi Eisenhour called the Community Conversations Special Meeting to
order in the presence of Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette and Commissioner Greg Brotherton.
Local Fire Chiefs, fire personnel, Fire Marshall and Deputy Fire Marshall were in attendance. Members
of the public were invited to give their public comments throughout the event.
PARTNER REPORTS: Fire Districts, federal partners, and the Department of Emergency
Management briefed attendees on the following:
• The Wildfire Ready Neighbors Program: They completed 188 home assessments with 65 still
on the waitlist before its Department of Natural Resources grant ended June 30, 2025. They
provide property-specific wildfire mitigation recommendations and plans to continue their
assessment services with newly trained volunteers.
• CARES Program: Active for over three years,now operating in both Port Townsend and
Quilcene. They served 1,500 mostly senior clients in 2024 who often face multiple compounding
challenges. Shared interagency digital referral system coordinates care among fire districts,the
hospital, and partner agencies.
• Community Risk Reduction: A broad prevention strategy that includes education, data-driven
mitigation, and program expansion, all of which support improved Washington Survey& Rating
Bureau(WSRB) scores.
• The Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB): Insurance rating system scores fire risk from
1 to 10, with Jefferson County Fire District 1 currently rated 4 and Port Townsend rated 3. Rural
districts face structural disadvantages due to urban-focused standards, prompting statewide
collaboration among fire chiefs to update outdated criteria, as these scores directly affect
homeowners' ability to obtain affordable insurance.
• Quilcene Fire & Rescue (District 2): They reported that they are actively advancing fire-
adapted community efforts, with about 30 residents awaiting wildfire risk assessments. A
demonstration mitigation site is underway at the community campground. There is heightened
concern for rural neighborhoods surrounded by state timberlands.
• Brinnon Fire Department(District 4): Improved its WSRB rating from 7 to 6. They responded
to major mobilizations such as Bear Gulch and Gold Creek. They have had 503 mostly EMS
calls year-to-date.
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Special Meeting re: Fire Safety Summit September 24, 2025
• The National Park Service: They are managing the 19,899 acre Bear Gulch Fire at 5%
containment across multiple wilderness areas under a Type 3 team. The 550-acre, 0% contained
Tunnel Creek Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Buckhorn Wilderness, where
upcoming heavy rain may aid suppression but raises concerns about runoff and post-fire
hydrology impacts.
• Department of Emergency Management: They are developing a comprehensive wildfire-
specific evacuation plan, informed by a multi-agency tabletop exercise using the Ladris AI
modeling tool, to establish predefined evacuation zones the County currently lacks,with a draft
expected by November.
OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHALL—Statement of purpose,formation,and authority: Fire
Marshall Phil Cecere explained that the Office of the Fire Marshall serves residents and businesses.
Their mission includes fire risk reduction,public education, fire and life safety inspections, fire
investigations,plan review, enforcement of fire codes and supporting safe, code-compliant businesses
and structures countywide. Authority for this program comes from Jefferson County Code 2.40.020,
adoption and enforcement of the International Fire Code (IFC), and State and local regulations.
The meeting recessed at 6:58 p.m. and reconvened at approximately 7:15 p.m.
FIREWORKS REGULATION: The Fire Marshall and fire personnel reviewed the fireworks policy,
total ban option,public display option, and enforcement.
COORDINATED WATER SYSTEM PLAN: Fire Marshall Phil Cecere briefly reviewed fire flow
requirement NFPA 1142, road standards for fire access to hydrants, and the Water Utility Coordinating
Committee (WUCC).
COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN (CWPP): Chair Eisenhour briefly provided an
update on the CWPP.
EMERGENCY RESOURCES WHEN MUTUAL AID IS EXHAUSTED: Not discussed.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Due to time constraints, Chair Eisenhour allowed one more comment from the
public before adjournment.
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Chair Eisenhour adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m. until the next
regular meeting or special meetjn§ as properly noticed.
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ATTEST: '�•.,,�'1'ASN�N,.,�`''� ` udle : ette, Member
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Carolaway, CMC J :tee:B lyn Gal :t erton, Member
Clerk of the Board
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