By Pepper Fisher
Port Angeles – Fire Commissioners from multiple fire districts in Clallam and Jefferson counties have banded together to form a new kind of alliance that has little to do with their traditional practice of backing each other up to fight fires.
Fire district officials have formed the “Olympic Peninsula Fire Commissioners Association” to, according to Keith Cortner, President of the organization, increase and enhance communication between fire districts throughout the region.
Cortner says the original idea was floated by District 2 Fire Commissioner Steve Hopf early last year.
“Steve Hopf came up with the idea early last year following some things that he’d heard in some other counties or regions on group efforts like this. So he thought about it, talked about it a little bit, a few of us were on board, and he ran with that and made several emails and phone calls and contacts and got about a half a dozen of us initially to get on board and decide to move forward with it.”
The Association was officially formed in August of 2023. All 6 Clallam County Fire Districts and two Jefferson County Fire Districts are currently represented as active members of the association, but Cortner says other groups or individuals involved in activities in support of improved fire protection, emergency preparedness and emergency medical services on the Olympic Peninsula are openly invited to join the association as associate members.
He says there was a time when some fire districts did not readily share resources and information with one another, but that kind of jurisdictional mentality has not proven to be the best course of action as times change.
“As fire districts move forward, the need to work together, to collaborate both in operations and budget issues, to save money for the taxpayer, and to create a better system overall without joining departments together, becomes more and more important to do our job and do our service to the community.”
The association is not a decision making group for any individual Fire District, but will actively support continuing education and participation by the separate organizations.
Individuals or groups interested in participating can contact Association President Keith Cortner at kcortner@clallamfire2.org.