East County Fire & Rescue

P.O. Box 345

Washougal, WA 98671

360-835-5511 (West Battalion)

360-834-4908 (East Battalion)

General Information

Incorporation: East County Fire & Rescue formed on May 16, 2006 when Clark County Fire District 1 merged into Clark County Fire District 9. Fire District 9 then petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to officially change the name to better reflect the service area of eastern Clark County, a.k.a. “East County”.

Voting District: The Camas and Washougal areas of east Clark County.

Mission: To provide emergency medical services, fire suppression, and public awareness.

Annual Revenue: $1,965,971

Form of Government

Elected commission.

Elected Officials

East County Fire & Rescue is governed by a six-member Board of Commissioners, elected from districts spread throughout the Fire District in Camas & Washougal.

District 1

Gary L. Larson

Term expires 12/31/2011

District 2

Victor N. Rasmussen

Term expires 12/31/2013

District 3

Mike Berg

Term expires 12/31/2015

District 4

John E. Clancy

Term expires 12/31/2011

District 5

George (Jack) F. Hoober

Term expires 12/31/2015

Engagement Opportunities

A six-member Board of Commissioners administers East County Fire & Rescue. The board meets twice each month, on the first and third Tuesday at 7 p.m..

Staff

Scott Koehler, fire chief
Bob Jacobs, assistant fire chief
Dean Thornberry, assistant fire chief
Mike Carnes, fire captain
Wes Long, fire captain
Tamara Dinius, administrative assistant
Linda Durrett, administrative specialist
Michelle McClanahan, office assistant
Linda Syrylo, office assistant

Notes of Special Interest

East County Fire & Rescue (ECF&R) is a primarily Volunteer Fire District which provides Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Response, Rope Rescue, Water Rescue, and Public Service Assistance to the unincorporated areas north of — and east of — the cities of Camas and Washougal. Approximately 53 Volunteer Fire Fighters, EMS Responders and Emergency Response Team Members respond to 600+ calls per year from our five fire stations: Fern Prairie, Livingston Mountain, Mt. Norway, Orchard Hills and Sunnyside. A small number of Chief Officers, Administrative/Clerical Personnel, College Interns and Part-Time Fire Fighters staff the Fern Prairie and Orchard Hills stations during the day — when Volunteers are at their ‘real’ jobs.
“Respond from Home” Volunteers do just that — leaving their homes on a moments notice to respond to our Community’s emergency needs. “Resident” Fire Fighters live in the Orchard Hills and Sunnyside fire stations at night. “Shift” Volunteers spend a minimum of one duty night per week in one of these same stations. A special EMS-Only Program allows First Responders and EMTs, who are not Fire Fighters, to assist in the delivery of Emergency Medical care — which comprises about 75 percent of this Agency’s call volume. Paramedic Ambulance Service is provided, by contract, by Camas Fire & Rescue.
A new ECF&R fire station is being built next to the Grove Field airport — in Fern Prairie. Slated to open in May 2008, this facility will provide living quarters for “Shift” Fire Fighters. This station is the busiest station we have — and most of its calls are in/around the Fern Prairie area. This new site will improve service to our Customers — reducing response times to fire and medical emergencies that occur in/around that area. This facility is being constructed without any increase in taxes. The old Fern Prairie station has been sold to help offset the cost of the new facility.