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Car Into House

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CKFR crews responded to an unusual vehicle collision the morning of November 5th.
At 9:06 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 4600 block of NW Knute Anderson Road, where a vehicle had left the roadway, struck the corner of a home and damaged a natural gas meter before coming to rest in the backyard.
Firefighters secured the gas hazard while Cascade Natural Gas and Puget Sound Energy responded to assist.
The driver was transported to St. Michael Medical Center with minor injuries. The occupants of the home were inside at the time but were not injured.
The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the collision.

CKFR’s First 4×4 Ambulance

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CKFR’s first 4×4 ambulance will soon be hitting the road!
By refurbishing and remounting the ambulance body from a 2017 unit onto a new 2026 Ford F-450 4×4 chassis, CKFR gained enhanced all-weather capability, extended the life of existing equipment, and saved approximately $90,000 compared to purchasing a new ambulance.
Look for Medic 52 to begin serving the community in the coming weeks!

Paramedic Mark Johnson Retires

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Congratulations, Paramedic Mark Johnson!
Mark’s career has been defined by service, leadership, education, and a lifelong commitment to helping others. Supported throughout his journey by his wife of 30 years, Kathleen, and their children Alex, Nathan, Emma, and Ben, Mark has dedicated more than 35 years to emergency medicine, healthcare, and public safety.
Mark’s EMS career began in the United States Army Reserve, where he served as a Medical Specialist and deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following his military service, he earned his EMT and Paramedic certifications and went on to serve communities throughout King and Pierce counties.
In December 1997, Mark joined what would become Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, beginning a career that spanned nearly three decades. As a firefighter, paramedic, mentor, evaluator, and labor leader, Mark has touched countless lives through patient care, training, and advocacy.
An enthusiastic lifelong learner, Mark earned his Registered Nurse degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and most recently a Master of Education. While serving at CKFR, he also held leadership roles within healthcare administration, overseeing clinical operations and managing medical teams in Silverdale.
Although Mark originally planned to retire in 2027, an exciting opportunity led him to begin a new chapter as EMS Programs Coordinator at Olympic College, where he will help educate and mentor the next generation of EMTs and paramedics.
Please join us in celebrating Mark’s remarkable career and thanking him for his years of service, leadership, mentorship, and dedication to our community.

Burn Ban Lifted

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The Kitsap County Fire Marshal, in coordination with the Kitsap County Fire Chiefs Association, announces that all outdoor burn bans are lifted effective October 1, 2026.
Recreational fires and general outdoor burning may resume, subject to normal rules and regulations.
Outdoor burning may resume under the following conditions:
• Permits are required for general outdoor burning. Contact your local fire district for permits and additional information.
• Outdoor burning remains prohibited within city limits.
• Only natural vegetation grown on the property may be burned.
• Burn piles must not exceed 10×10 feet in size.
• Land clearing debris may not be burned.
• Maintain at least 50 feet from structures or property lines.
• Fires must be attended at all times until fully extinguished.
• A shovel, water supply, and tools for controlling fire spread must be readily available.
• Clear tall grass, dried brush, or other vegetation within 50 feet of the burn pile.
• Ensure the fire is completely out and cold to the touch before leaving.
The Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that although the burn ban is lifting, safety remains paramount. Always check current fire danger levels and follow all fire safety regulations before burning.

Vehicle Rollover With Entrapment

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Traffic is moving again on Hwy 303 after a rollover accident the afternoon of October 1st caused a shutdown of all Southbound lanes. It happened in the area of Gluds Pond and left two people entrapped.
Both occupants were safely extricated from the vehicle and thankfully did not have serious injuries.

Station 56 Re-Opened

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Thank you to everyone who attended the re-opening of Station 56 this past weekend!
Without the support of our wonderful community we would not have been able to complete important seismic and safety upgrades designed to help keep our firefighters safe and ensure the station can continue serving our community for years to come.
We appreciate you all!

Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue on the August 6, 2024, primary election ballot

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Emergency call volumes for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue have increased 39 percent in the past six years. Sixty-eight percent of those calls are for emergency medical service.

Call volumes and the cost to provide service keep increasing and the fire district is concerned. That’s why it filed paperwork for a fire levy lid lift this year asking voters to return the fire levy to the previously voter-approved rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

“Our community consistently says that they want the highest level and quality of emergency services – and they deserve that,” said Chief Jason Christian. “At this point, service levels are not to that standard.”

The $0.16 lid lift would hire up to six firefighter/paramedics over the next six years. This would allow the district to staff two additional stations (Lake Symington and Olympic View) 24 hours a day and reduce response times district-wide.
“Adding capacity reduces response times for all residents,” said Chief Christian.

The fire district wants to improve its training programs for firefighters and paramedics. While the agency provides fire suppression, technical rescue and Advanced Life Support – the highest level of care possible – emergency personnel require constant training to deliver service.

“Advancements in fire and EMS are happening all the time,” said Chief Christian. “We must ensure our people have the most current skills.”

The fire district also plans to replace an ambulance that has reached the end of its usable life and refurbish three fire engines. Refurbishing the fire engines will save taxpayers up to $2 million as opposed to buying new ones.

The fire district is asking voters to return the fire levy from $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50, which is the levy rate voters approved in 2019. The $0.16 lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year.

Find more information at www.ckfr.org. Fire Chief Jason Christian also welcomes your questions at jchristian@ckfr.org and 360-447-3550.

Board of Fire Commissioners passes fire levy lid lift resolution

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The Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 6, 2024, primary election ballot. The lid lift would fund additional firefighters to respond to higher call volumes and replace aging apparatus.
Call volumes have increased by 39 percent in the past six years. Last year, the fire district responded to 11,384 calls – of which 68 percent were for medical emergencies (EMS). Revenue from the district’s current fire levy is not keeping up with higher call volumes and costs to provide service.
Additional firefighters and paramedics are needed to maintain the level and quality of emergency services the community requires. Some emergency apparatus has also reached the end of its usable life and needs to be replaced to ensure service reliability when responding to calls.
If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift will fund:
• Up to six firefighters over the next six years – allowing the district to staff two additional stations (Lake Symington and Olympic View) 24 hours a day and reduce response times across the district
• Replace an ambulance that has reached the end of its usable life
• Refurbish up to three engines, saving taxpayers up to $2 million as opposed to buying new ones
• Improve firefighter and paramedic training programs
The lid lift would also fund the CARES program to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents. CARES is a program that helps assist community members with issues before they become emergencies.
The fire district is asking voters to return the fire levy from $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50, which is the levy rate voters approved in 2019. The $0.16 lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year.
Find more information at www.ckfr.org. Fire Chief Jason Christian also welcomes your questions at jchristian@ckfr.org and 360-447-3550.

Board of Fire Commissioners to meet on fire levy resolution

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Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners will meet March 25 to discuss a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 6, 2024, primary election ballot. The community is encouraged to attend the meeting at 4 p.m. at the district’s administrative building, 5300 NW Newberry Hill Road, Suite 101.
Revenue from the fire levy is not keeping up with higher call volumes and costs to provide emergency services. Call volumes have increased by 39 percent in the last six years. In 2023, the fire district responded to over 11,300 calls – and the majority of those calls, 68 percent, were for medical emergencies.
“We require additional personnel to keep up with higher call volumes,” Fire Chief Jason Christian said. “In addition, we need to replace aging apparatus to ensure service reliability when responding to calls.”
If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift will fund:
• Up to six firefighters over the next six years, allowing the fire district to staff both the Lake Symington and Olympic View stations 24 hours a day and reduce response times districtwide
• Replacement of an aging ambulance and refurbish up to three engines – saving taxpayers money as opposed to buying new ones
• Firefighter and paramedic training
• The CARES program to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents
The fire district prefers to pay for capital items – such as ambulances – through the regular fire levy instead of borrowing money, which costs taxpayers more in interest payments. The fire levy lid lift would continue this cost-saving measure.
The Board is considering asking voters to return the fire levy from $1.34 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The $0.16 lid lift would cost an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.
Find more information about the levy lid lift at www.ckfr.org. Fire Chief Jason Christian also welcomes your questions at jchristian@ckfr.org and 360-447-3550.

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Adopts 2024 Budget

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“We operate under a balanced budget to fund emergency services,” fire chief says

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue adopted its 2024 budget. The fire district operates under a balanced budget and its funding decisions are guided by a strategic plan, which identifies the operational and capital needs to provide fire and EMS to the community.

The strategic plan is approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners who are locally elected to represent the community’s priorities. All board meetings are open to the public and meeting information can be found on the fire district’s website.

“Transparency and accountability are key to maintaining public trust,” Fire Chief Jason Christian said. “We report to you and believe it is critical for our community to understand how we are funded. This is a partnership to save lives and property and we are grateful for the community’s support.”

How we fund emergency services
Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue (CKFR) funds its daily operations through a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. In 2019, voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50. Since then, the levy rate has dropped to $1.34.

“There is a common misconception that revenue for the fire district increases annually by the same amount as assessed property values,” Chief Christian said. “That is not the case.”
State law limits fire districts to a set amount of revenue per year plus a small increase approved by voters. Even if property values double, the fire district can only collect approximately the same amount from the previous year plus that small increase approved by voters.

This is called “levy compression” and impacts the fire district’s ability to provide emergency services.

“Revenue from our current fire levy of $1.34 is not keeping up with higher call volumes and costs to provide service,” Chief Christian said. “We need additional personnel to respond to calls.”

Calls have increased by 39 percent in the last six years. In 2023, the fire district responded to over 11,300 calls – and the majority of those calls, 68 percent, were for medical emergencies.

CKFR is considering asking voters to return the fire levy rate to $1.50 in the August primary election.

The $0.16 lid lift would fund additional emergency personnel to respond to higher call volumes and maintain the level and quality of emergency response the community requires. The fire district also needs to replace apparatus to ensure service reliability when responding to calls.

Stretching tax dollars further
The fire district applies for grants and works with neighboring agencies to share costs. The fire district prefers a “pay as you go” method for capital items – such as apparatus – through the regular fire levy instead of borrowing money, which costs taxpayers more in interest payments.

Additionally, the fire levy funds the CARES program to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents. CARES is a program that helps assist community members with issues before they become more expensive emergencies.

In addition to operating under a balanced budget, the fire district maintains adequate emergency reserves and has passed all its independent financial and accountability audits. These strong financial practices earned CKFR an AA+ credit rating, which is one of the highest possible ratings.

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