At a recent FD3 Fire Commissioner meeting a community member publicly spoke about the need for the department to think big and have a plan to scale up for a projected 12,000 calls a year in 2030. It was stated that another department in western WA determined their 12,000 call a year workload required hiring over 200 firefighters with 10 staffed stations, and that their standard raises the bar for all departments as something to strive for when it comes to improving. This information was not well received, and the comparison was dismissed due to dissimilar budgets.
So we have found a near perfect comparable that will deliver this point: FD3 needs to catch up.
We would like to congratulate the Poulsbo Fire Department's recent increases in resources (including an additional beautiful new station!) and highlight their actions as an example of a good standard of growth to better serve their community.
"This change to staffing resulted in reduced strain on our busiest crews, which improved emergency response reliability and, in turn, improved response times across the district." -PFD. We need our leadership to display the same forward thinking.
FD3 annual revenue is just about the same as Poulsbo, and so is the amount of full time firefighters.
FD3 Minimum firefighter staffing: 10
Poulsbo: 11
FD3 staffed stations: 3
Poulsbo: 4 (with a brand-new additional station)
FD3 Call Volume: Approx. 10,000 calls/year
Poulsbo: Aprrox. 5,000 calls/year
FD3 response area: 142 square miles
Poulsbo: 55 square miles
FD3 population: Approx. 40,000
Poulsbo: Approx 30,000
FD3 assessed property value in district: $10.04 Billion (2026)
Poulsbo: $7.5 Billion (2026)
FD3 shift model: 3 platoon (A,B,C shifts)
Poulsbo: 4 platoon (A,B,C,D shifts)
Also noteworthy is that Poulsbo is pursuing a bond this year to grow even more, while FD3 commissioners have made the assumption that a bond is not an option, a risky move that may slow down the department’s imperative growth.
A standard has been set. The bar is raised. We need to try and keep up because that’s the right thing to do for the community we are trying so hard to serve.
We protect a larger area with more citizens. We have less firefighters on duty and less stations. We protect even more in property value. We have double the calls. Both departments have the same revenue.
We need solutions and a plan to scale up the department.
Our people display incredible problem solving and multi-tasking on the streets due to high demand and low firefighter staffing levels. NOW is the time to utilize those same skills in the meeting rooms here in Sequim.
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4/22/26 9:49pm Crews are responding west towards Blue Mountain Rd to a reported shed on fire with possible gas/propane involved, and a home 20 feet away.
Update 10:02pm: The fire is a distance from the nearest staffed station. First arriving crew is still en route.
Update 10:07pm: Engine 33 has arrived to a fully involved shed fire
Update 10:10pm Battalion 3 has assumed command, and there are no reports of extension to other buildings.
10:13pm Water on the fire.
Some fire found and knocked down in an exposure (another building)
Nearly all FD3 units are tied up on this call for the time being. Stay safe out there.
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There was a motor vehicle collision involving a Door Dash delivery. The driver was ok, the car was not. Our B shift Engine 34 Captain finished the job on behalf of the stranded driver. We’re not sure the food was as warm as it could be, but the delivery sure was, extra smiles included. Well done team. Wonder what the tip amount was…
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Last night, a Sequim doctor's office called 911 for an individual with serious cardiac symptoms. We arrived and determined the patient was experiencing a STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) or in better words, a big scary heart attack that requires immediate transport and care to a hospital capable of handling cardiac emergencies.
Fire District 3 Firefighter Paramedics are tasked with high level critical patient care and EMS protocols not seen in other Washington counties due to our distance from cardiac capable hospitals. The nearest hospital for STEMIs is St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale.
While responding lights and sirens on the roughly 1 hour drive, our paramedic was able to administer a rare and expensive medication called Tenecteplase, the “clot buster.” FD3 is the only fire department with access to TNK in the county.
This life saving medication is made possible to our medics and community through a successful partnership with St Michael.
Without the the clot busting medication, the outcome of the patient may have been much worse. We are happy to report that the before and after ECG of the patient showed that the medication did its job. The patient was delivered to the ER alive and ready for the next levels of care.
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Thank you everyone that helped support our recent training burn in Sequim! This is the best way to prepare freighters.
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