Author: SPFR Support

A burn ban for unincorporated Pierce County is effective at 8 a.m. on June 1, 2024 until further notice.

The Pierce County Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association, has declared the burn ban. This is due to the expectation of warmer, drier days becoming more common and resulting in fires starting more easily and posing a greater threat to people and property.

The burn ban applies to all land clearing and outdoor burning of yard debris in unincorporated Pierce County. This ban does not apply to small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved campgrounds or private property with the owner’s permission. The use of gas, propane, charcoal or pellet self-contained stoves, smokers and barbecues are allowed.

Recreational fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not used as debris disposal.
• Grow no larger than three feet in diameter.
• Be in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least ten feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches.
• Be always attended by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire like hand tools and a garden hose attached to a water faucet that is on, or not less than two, five-gallon buckets of water.
• No burning when winds exceed 5 MPH.

This ban only applies to residents in unincorporated Pierce County. For residents of incorporated Pierce County cities and towns, please contact your local jurisdiction for requirements.

This ban does not apply to setting off legal fireworks in unincorporated Pierce County during the allowed discharge times. Please see the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau’s website for additional information at www.piercecountywa.gov/fpb.

The burn ban in 2023 was declared June 6 and ended October 3.

If you have an approved Department of Natural Resources (DNR) burn permit and/or your property falls under the jurisdiction of the DNR, you are advised to call 1-800-323-BURN for more information.

South Pierce Fire and Rescue (SPFR)
Seeking “For” Committee Members and “Against” Committee Members (RCW 29A.32.280)

At the regular board meeting of February 20, 2024, the Board of Fire Commissioners of SPFR passed a Resolution to place an annexation measure, in which SPFR would annex the Town of Eatonville, on the August 6, 2024 primary ballot.

SPFR is now seeking “For” Committee Members and “Against” Committee Members relating to the Levy Lid Lift. The committees are set to be formally appointed as delegated by the Board of Fire Commissioners pursuant to the Resolution referenced above. Each committee shall have not more than three members. SPFR will use the following criteria when making appointments:

• Reside in the district of the jurisdiction that submits the resolution.
• Have an email address or phone number and the demonstrated ability to communicate rapidly by email and phone.
• Agree to work collaboratively with co-committee members.

Persons who wish to join a committee will be selected based upon the order in which they submit a letter of interest. If interested in serving on a committee, please contact Finance Manager Rebecca Nason as noted below, no later than 4:00pm May 3, 2024 Contact person for submitting letters of interest:

Rebecca Nason: rnason@spfr.org

October 19th 2022

---

October 18th 2022

Lower temperatures, higher humidity help firefighters make progress against the 8 Road Fire.

(MINERAL, Wash.) — The 8 Road Fire was reported on October 15 at about 4 p.m. and is burning on Washington
State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land in the timber and brush of the Elbe Hills State Forest, about 4
miles east of Eatonville. The cause is under investigation. With improved data from a helicopter flight on Monday
evening, fire managers now estimate the fire’s size at about 150 acres.
Firefighters, aided by helicopter bucket drops, successfully slowed the fire’s progress on Sunday despite hot and
breezy weather conditions. Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team, under Incident Commander
Charley Burns, took command of the fire at 6 a.m. on Monday. Also yesterday, higher humidity and lower
temperatures arrived in the area, further moderating fire behavior. Access to the fire’s perimeter is complicated by
steep slopes and rugged terrain so crews focused on building lines to contain the fire in the event that it becomes
more active again. As the nights become cooler and more fall-like, the public may notice additional smoke in the
area due to morning temperature inversions.
Today, the weather is forecast to remain warm and dry with light winds. Firefighters will continue securing, holding
and improving containment lines. There may be some increase in fire activity in the afternoon, but the fire is not
expected to grow beyond its current footprint. Though no helicopters are currently assigned to the fire, aircraft
resources are available if needed.
Level 1 evacuations (Be Ready) are in effect for approximately 100 properties accessed off of Scott Turner Road in
Sections 28, 29, 32 and 33 of Township 16 N, Range 5 E. There are two road closures: At the 501 Gate where Scott
Turner Road becomes the 8 Road, and at the 503 Gate at the junction of the 8 Road and the 5 Road. Sign-up for
emergency alerts at https://www.piercecountywa.gov/917/Alert-Warning.
Fire danger will remain high until the region experiences a sustained shift to fall and winter weather patterns. Burn
restrictions are in effect on DNR lands as well as in local fire districts. For specific information, go to
dnr.wa.gov/burn-restrictions or check with your local fire district. Preserve limited firefighting resources by doing
what you can to avoid sparking additional fires.
Fire managers are also asking for help keeping the public and firefighters safe. Stay clear of the fire area, and
exercise caution when driving in the vicinity as firefighters are operating in and around the area.
The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the fire or its cause is
encouraged to call the 8 Road Fire Information Line at (253)271-4139 or send an email to 8roadfire@gmail.com.

Briefing and Map

Good Morning Community Members,

Please be advised that our Facebook account has been recently hacked. If you receive a personal message from South Pierce Fire & Rescue via Facebook messenger it is not an official member or representative of the District. Please also disregard all other Facebook posts regarding topics such as apparatus or requests for financial assistance. These also have not been posted by official members or representatives of the Fire District.

We are doing our best to handle this technical issue and attempting all we can to get it resolved as quickly as possible.