Inside the City 22 April 2022

Inside the City of Tumwater Date: April 22, 2022 To:

Mayor Debbie Sullivan City Councilmembers City Employees

From: John Doan, City Administrator

PEOPLE

frequent coordinator of food, sox, and other drives to help the community. We will miss her and her

commitment to Tumwater and the community.

Enjoy the next chapter of life! Have they told you how cold it gets there?

David Ginther Leaves After 22 Years

Senior Planner David Ginther has left the City to

work for our neighbors in Olympia. David had been

with the City since 1999, when he started as an Assistant Planner, receiving a promotion to Senior

Planner in 2010. During his time with the City, David worked on 43 annexations, including the two

largest in City history. He worked on the City’s award-winning outdoor lighting ordinance, the

legally ground-breaking Manufactured Home Park

ordinance, and the 2010 and 2020 Census. We wish

David all the best.

Tami Petterson Leaving the City

Department Assistant Tami Petterson is leaving the City to pursue her long-time dream of living in Eastern Washington. Tami is probably the award winner for working in the most number of

departments during her 22-year career with the City. She started in Finance, then Municipal Court (when we had that service in City Hall), back to

Finance, and then on to Fire, Public Works, and

Water Resources & Sustainability. She was a

Economic Development Manager Joining City

Austin Ramirez is joining the City as our first Economic Development Manager. Austin will be working out of the Community Development Department. He currently is the Community & Economic Development Manager in Lane County, Oregon (which includes Eugene and extends from mountains to the ocean). Prior to that, he was with the City of Claremont, California. He has a bachelor’s degree from Cal State – San Bernardino and an MPA from the University of La Verne in La Verne, California. He will be starting with us on June 1. The City Council identified this new manager position as an important part of recruiting and retaining business in the community. He will also be in the lead on the City Habitat Conservation Plan implementation. Please say ‘welcome’ to Austin when you see him.

Community Engagement Specialist Joining the Communications Team

With financial support from over two dozen

Please welcome Nicolas and Tre! We hope you learn lots.

pending capital projects, Marnie McGrath joins the Communication Team as the second Community

Engagement Specialist on May 2. She comes to us from Washington State Archives with experience

working for the Association of Washington Cities, City of Seattle Public Utilities, and King County

Department of Transportation. Her experience in transportation projects will be valuable as work begins on the Trosper Road Capitol Boulevard

intersection. Welcome, Marnie – we are excited to have you on board.

Water Resources Specialist Comes from Consulting Firm

A big welcome to Grant! Over the last seven years

he worked a private consulting firm managing

environmental projects in the public and private

sectors, including some Tumwater projects. He has worked with the Association of Washington

Business and was instrumental in creating the

Washington Stormwater Center, a clearinghouse

for stormwater information across the State. He is

a US Marine Corp veteran and served in the Gulf

War. Grant is filling the WRS position vacated by

Merideth Greer. He starts June 1.

Interns Joining GIS Team

An essential part of our belief in “learning” is to

help others learn and develop in their professions.

This summer, two interns will be joining our GIS team. Nicholas Swanson and Tre Winchester will be

working on some of the 190 projects that have been identified for them. Nicolas, a Lacey resident

and Army veteran is finishing his degree in Urban Studies at the University of Washington in Tacoma

Kudos to Our Team A recent social media post thanked Elizabeth

Anderssen in the Police Department for helping a

family find a place in the community that would take medication donations instead of throwing them away.

An employee from another department did a shout-out to Accounting Technician Joann Fletcher

in the Finance Department for the help she regularly provides with expediting purchasing and accounts payable.

The Town of Steilacoom Chief of Police wrote to express

appreciation

for

the

assistance

of

Tumwater Paramedic Lt. Gary Burkhardt in being

part of the SWAT team that helped capture a

dangerous and armed individual. The Countywide SWAT team is supported by specially trained

paramedics trained and available during SWAT operations.

A big thank you from the Golf Course to the Police Department for the officers' continued support in

various situations. The message used sentiments like responsiveness and professionalism about

Officer Seth Stauffer, Sergeant Tim Eikum, Lt. Carlos

Quiles, Lt. Jennifer Kolb, and even the now-retired

Lt. Bruce Brenna. (We even saw some officers patrolling the field at the Easter Egg Hunt.)

and received a GIS Certificate from UW-T last year.

The City received an “unmodified opinion” due to

public sector. Tre is in his final quarter studying

called a “clean” audit. This was a particularly

He is considering going on to graduate school. He

of significant CARES funds that came to the City.

using his GIS skills.

for her work on the City’s financials and all the

He aspires to be a GIS Analyst or Planner in the

the recent State audit of our 2020 finances, also

Environmental and Resource Geography at CWU.

challenging year for financial compliance because

aspires to a public sector land management role

Congrats to Assistant Finance Director Shelly Carter employees involved in compliance, from the City Clerk to Facilities, TED, and WRS.

Final Annexations Moving Forward

EVENTS

The final three of the City’s island annexations

cleared the Thurston County Boundary Review

Save the Date, Safe a Life!

The City is hosting a blood drive 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, May 25. City employees and City Council

are

invited

to

participate--please

coordinate with your supervisor. The Headquarters Fire Station T-1 Training Room will be the host of the drive. Thank you, Fire Department!

Board (BRB). These annexations have been a

Council goal for a long time. Clearing the BRB

means the final action will be to consider and adopt annexation ordinances by the City Council on May

17 and June 7. The total of the annexations will

bring about 160, mostly developed, parcels into the City and convert the Swiss cheese map of the City into a solid cheddar.

Schedule your donation online.

INSIDE THE CITY

PLACES The Development Review Committee is looking at

Illustrating our Mission, Vision, or Beliefs in Action.

pedestrian signal at the northern intersection of

What is this talk about a Regional Fire Authority?

DRC Looks at School Projects and Others

a proposal by the School District to install a

Barnes Blvd. SW and Ridgeview Loop. The Transportation staff is looking at ways that alternative protection for kids crossing there could be provided. They are also doing a formal review of

a proposed 183-unit apartment building between

Toyota and the pedestrian overpass. Glenn Wells and 4th Street Housing are proposing the 4-story

building. They are also looking at feasibility of two

24-unit apartment buildings at 6333 Capitol Blvd.

SW.

Previously, the Committee looked at 25,000 s.f. of industrial, office, and retail space for 588 Tilley Ct.

We know fire department services are important to

for two houses and a duplex at 505 Delta Lane SE.

menu of City services. Tax limitations, growing

SE., and a proposed plat of .63 acres into three lots

Unrelated to DRC, the City is also aware of a development proposal outside the City limits on

the south end of Prine Drive. The project would include

a

1.2

million

and

a

500,000

s.f.

the community and a valued and historic part of the demand from more customers, and increasing demands for the full range of services meant the City

had to look for ways to ensure the long-term

sustainability of services.

warehouse/distribution facilities. We have concerns

Before COVID, the City initiated a study of fire and

transportation regulations.

regionalization of services would be more efficient

about consistency with zoning, environmental, and

emergency medical services to see if options for and provide better service to our community. The

study was presented to local elected officials in November of 2019, just before COVID, and

suggested

opportunities

for

expanded

regionalization of these services in the central part of Thurston County.

Fire and emergency medical services are uniquely

suited to a regional approach because of the nature of fire department staffing, equipment, and facility

needs. Also, State law includes several options for regional provision of fire services: a fire district and a regional fire authority.

The Cities of Tumwater and Olympia agreed to a

planning process last year that could result in the formation of a Regional Fire Authority, also called

an RFA. A planning committee composed of three council members from each city was formed along

with the two fire chiefs and representation from the

IAFF. They have met several times to study issues like the finances, organizational structure, governing

board, equipment, facilities, and the community's benefits.

The Committee has a tremendous amount of work

before the proposal can be put on the ballot for voters in the new RFA to consider in the spring of next year. During the next five months, many of the questions you may have about the impact of the RFA

on the City and our community will be answered.

When we have more answers, we will share them

with everyone. The Planning Committee has

committed that no jobs will be eliminated because of the RFA.

Regardless of how the RFA study ultimately turns

out, the fact we went down this path of study and

consideration demonstrates our commitment to

providing essential municipal services and our

beliefs in PEOPLE, EXCELLENCE, OPPORTUNITY, PARTNERSHIIP and LEARNING.

www.OlympiaTumwaterRFA.org

Police Department Monthly Report

To:

John Doan, City Administrator

From:

Jon Weiks, Chief of Police

Date:

April 15, 2022

Re:

March 2022

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY 2022-0443 Auto Theft/Kidnapping - Tumwater Officers were dispatched to a report of suspicious circumstances called in by an employee at a local gas station. Upon arrival, officers contacted a distraught male and female

who reported their truck was stolen, with their 10-month-old son asleep in the backseat. The father reported he and the child’s mother had briefly gone into the business and left the truck running with the child asleep in the

backseat. While inside the store, someone stole the truck, abducting their child. Officers were advised the

mother’s phone was still in the truck, so with the help of T-Mobile, dispatchers were able to start tracking the phone’s location. Multiple officers, responding from every law enforcement jurisdiction in Thurston County, responded to coordinated areas to assist with locating the child. Thirty-five minutes after the child was

abducted, the abandoned truck and child were located by a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy in

Littlerock. The child was unharmed and still seated in the car seat in the same manner as when the parents last

saw him. The suspect was believed to have fled the scene with accomplices who had been following in another

vehicle. A Tumwater detective responded to the scene and took over primary responsibility for the investigation.

Further investigation revealed the gas station surveillance cameras captured the abduction, and a copy of the

video was released to the media. We received several tips regarding the identities of the three involved suspects

captured in the video. This is still an active investigation at this time.

2022-0478 Arson 2nd/Harassment with Threats to Intimidate - Tumwater Officers were dispatched to a report of a vehicle fire on Hansen Street. Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle fully engulfed in flames parked in a

residential driveway. The flames were approximately 12 feet high and brushing up against a residential duplex.

The residents in one of the units could not exit the front of the residence due to the flames blocking their exit.

Tumwater Fire responded and extinguished the fire. A neighbor contacted one of the officers and reported

seeing a vehicle leave the neighborhood at a high rate of speed, but it was unclear if it was related. The vehicle owners were contacted, and a possible suspect's name was provided, given the fire was deemed to be arson.

The suspect was identified as the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims. Officers obtained video surveillance

footage from a nearby residence showing the fire was set intentionally. The suspect shown in the footage was

the same person named by the victims. In the footage, the suspect was observed exiting a vehicle that had

stopped behind the victim’s vehicle. The suspect approached the victim’s car, dumped an unknown liquid

accelerant in the front passenger compartment, set the interior on fire, and fled the scene. The suspect later

contacted the victim via phone and left a threatening voicemail. Officers developed probable cause to arrest the suspect for Arson 2nd degree and Felony Harassment-Threats to Intimidate. Lacey police officers located the

suspect a few days later, and a foot pursuit ensued. The officers were able to capture and place the suspect into

custody. It was also determined the vehicle the suspect had been driving was reported stolen. A Tumwater officer responded to the arrest location, took custody of the suspect, and impounded the stolen car. The

suspect was transported to the Thurston County Jail and booked for the felony charges. A search warrant was

later obtained for the vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of a loaded airsoft rifle.

2022-0551 Assault 2nd - Tumwater Officers were dispatched to a local recreation facility for a report of an

aggravated assault. The reporting party stated that his friend had just been stabbed with scissors. Officers

arrived and contacted a 13-year-old victim and his 13 year-old friend. The victim and his friend reported they

were outside the business talking when they observed two teenage subjects (male and female) standing nearby

staring at them. They confronted the subjects, and a verbal argument ensued. The male suspect then

approached and pushed the victim down, and the female ran at them with a pair of scissors in each hand. The

victim was stabbed in the back with the scissors by the female, while the victim’s friend fled into the business to retrieve an adult. The victim’s friend was able to photograph the suspects as they were fleeing on foot. An

employee attended to the victim’s wound until Tumwater Fire personnel arrived. Descriptions of the suspects

and the photographs were provided to responding officers. Officers located the suspects hiding in a nearby

wooded area and placed 18-year-old male and the 16 year-old female suspects into custody. A search incident

to arrest resulted in the recovery of several pairs of scissors in the female’s possession. Both suspects were

transported and booked into jail for Assault 2nd degree (male at Thurston County Jail and female at Thurston

County Youth Services Center).

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DROPBOX The public deposited 60 pounds of prescription drugs in March and a total of 200 pounds for the year.

BUDGET At the end of the month, the police department budget is 22% spent for the year and 56% spent for the biennium.

K-9 STATISTICS K9 James was recovering from a leg injury and unavailable for service this month.

SRO ACTIVITY School Resource Officers Tyler Boling and Rosco Rollman participated in high school orientation nights at both

high schools for incoming freshmen.

School Resource Officer Rollman spoke to Tumwater Middle School Health classes about various topics. The

teacher praised SRO Rollman for his ability to adjust his conversation to the needs of the students in each of the classes.

School Resource Officer Boling met with a Peter G. Schmidt Elementary student who was struggling at school.

SRO Boling established a positive connection with the student and helped guide her back on track.

School Resource Officer Boling met with a Bush Middle School student about issues the student was having at home and school. SRO Boling established a positive connection with the student and provided guidance.

School Resource Officer Boling met with an East Olympia Elementary 2nd grade student who repeatedly ran

away from teachers. SRO Boling established a positive rapport with the student, and they spoke about school safety and following directions. SRO Boling also met with the student’s father and was able to help the father

resolve the behavior with counsel and positive interaction.

The School Resource Officers investigated the following incidents this month: •

An assault occurred between two Bush Middle School students. The suspect approached the victim in the library and sprayed the victim in the eyes with a liquid candy that comes in an aerosol container.

This had been an ongoing harassment issue with this student, so the victim's parents advised they

wanted to pursue charges. The case was forwarded to the Thurston County Juvenile Prosecutor for Assault 4th.

•

A Child Protective Services referral was received regarding an alleged assault of a student by a Bush

Middle School staff member. The investigation revealed the alleged assault occurred four years earlier

and involved the staff member allegedly hitting the student on the head with a stack of papers when the student was perceived not to be paying attention. The student’s parents were aware of the

allegation at the time of the incident, and the staff member denied any assault. There were no other incidents between the student and the staff member after that incident. The case was closed as information only.

•

A threats complaint involving Tumwater Middle School students. A student sent threatening messages to a friend about wanting to harm another student physically. After talking with the parents of the

involved student, it was determined the threats were not credible. It was later learned that the other student had assaulted the student who had sent the messages earlier. The parents of both students

chose not to pursue the cases criminally. The matter was referred to school administration to address.

•

A weapons violation involving two Black Hills High School students. One student reported another

student had pointed a firearm at him while they were in separate vehicles driving on Trosper Road.

There were passengers in both vehicles at the time. Interviews of all the involved persons resulted in

varying accounts of what transpired. The suspect and his friends denied the suspect having a firearm,

and no firearm was recovered. The incident was documented and referred to the Thurston County Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office for review.

•

Stolen track equipment at Tumwater Middle School. The theft was captured on video surveillance

cameras, but no suspects could be identified due to the time of night.

•

Theft of money at Bush Middle School. The investigation was able to identify the student responsible

for the theft, who returned the stolen money. The matter was referred to school administration to address.

•

A weapon violation at Bush Middle School. A student was reported to have brought a pocket knife to school. The student claimed the knife in their possession was for protection from bullies. It was later learned the student had brandished the knife and threatened another student at school. The victim

student reported not feeling threatened or being fearful. An information report was completed, and the

matter was referred to school administration to address.

•

A mutual combat incident at Bush Middle School between two students. One student assaulted another student, which resulted in that student retaliating. The parent of the first student wanted to pursue

charges against the retaliating student. A report was completed and forwarded to the Thurston County Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office for review.

•

An allegation of child abuse of a Bush Middle School student. A report was completed and forwarded

to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office and Child Protective Services for review. Interviews with all

involved parties were conducted and there was insufficient evidence to determine if the conduct went beyond parental discipline.

•

Reckless driving and smoking an unknown substance by a Black Hills High School student on school

grounds. A staff member observed this, and the matter was turned over to the school administration to address.

•

A child abuse investigation involving a Tumwater High School student. Interviews with both parties

involved were conducted and there was insufficient evidence to determine if the conduct went beyond parental discipline. A report was completed and forwarded to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office and Child Protective Services for review.

•

There are allegations of inappropriate communication with a Black Lake Elementary student by a school staff member. The complaint was received through a Child Protective Services referral. The investigation revealed the allegation was false. An informational report was completed.

CODE ENFORCEMENT Code Enforcement initiated two new cases this month based on resident complaints.

• •

Trash and appliances being stored outside of a residential building; and,

Trash being stored outside of a residence.

Code Enforcement resolved three cases this month.

•

Trash and broken glass were cleaned up at a commercial property after the issuance of a notice of violation;

•

A utility trailer full of garbage that was chained to a utility pole alongside a residential property was emptied and moved to a safer location upon posted of a notice of violation at the property; and,

•

Trash bags accumulating outside of a residence were cleaned up upon issuing a notice of violation.

Code Enforcement currently has 13 open cases.

PERSONNEL • • •

Rosco Rollman, School Resource Officer – 24 years Peter Navarro, Officer – 4 years

James Moran, Officer – 4 years

QUANTIFIABLE ACTIVITY

Calls for Service Self-Initiated* Arrests Citations Issued New Cases – Investigations Public Disclosure Requests CPL/Gun Transfers Court Documents Evidence Overtime Annual Leave Sick Leave

*

Monthly

2022 1,548 848 44 30

2021 1,432 1,586 54 63

% Changed 8% -47% -19% -52%

2022 4,245 2,528 103 77

32

10

220%

85 202 90 207

81 145 67 112

307 298 290

200 382 222

Year to Date 2021 4,200 4,644 145 195

% Changed 1% -46% -29% -61%

72

44

64%

5% 39% 34% 85%

243 437 245 446

244 335 178 377

0% 30% 38% 18%

54% -22% 31%

1,114 887 925

870 680 594

28% 30% 56%

Self-Initiated includes investigative follow-ups, civil paperwork service, area checks, business checks, school visits, resident contacts, traffic stops, and backup activity.

TRAINING • • • • • • • • •

Two members completed a one-week Trimble Forensic Mapping course

Two members completed a one-week FBI LEEDA – Supervisor Leadership course Two members completed one-day Draeger/SFST refresher training

Two members completed a one-week SWAT Team Leader Development course

One member completed a three-day ShotIQ Firearms Instructor course

One member completed a three-day Red Dot Sight Firearms Instructor course One member continued training at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy

One member completed Police Staffing in Times of Crisis virtual training

One member completed Tactical Emotional Intelligence for Law Enforcement training

• • •

Four members completed ACCESS Level 1 training

One member completed ACCESS Level 2 training

Four TPD members on Thurston County SWAT attended monthly training 671 total training hours

COMMUNITY EVENTS School Resource Officer Tyler Boling attended a Tumwater Youth Program (TYP) event for middle school students.

COMMENDATIONS/LETTERS OF APPRECIATION Officer Chase Grimmett received a verbal commendation from a citizen he assisted with a welfare check. The

citizen came into the department and wanted to tell us, “the officer was the most polite and intelligent officer I

have ever dealt with. That man has something special.”

School Resource Officer Rosco Rollman received a letter of appreciation from a teacher at Tumwater Middle

School. The teacher wrote, “I have had Detective Rollman come in to introduce himself and present to my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Health classes at TMS. He does such a good job of adjusting and taking the conversations

where they need to go. I appreciate him being here and his commitment to being in the classroom from time to

time. I think this is the proactive and preventative work that will pay off.”

Transportation & Engineering Water Resources & Sustainability April 2022 PERSONNEL UPDATES & ANNIVERSARIES Walter Renaud TED Maintenance Tech. II | 4/19/1999, 23 yrs.

Cathy Nielsen Administrative Assistant | 4/1/2018, 4 yrs.

Don Carney Capital Projects Manager | 4/16/2021, 1 yr.

Israel Road / Linderson Way Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements Design This

much-needed

bike

and

pedestrian

facility

improvement project will provide increased safety along Israel Road from Capitol Boulevard to Linderson Way. The project includes pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, curb

ramps, pavement work, bike lanes, and replacement of existing asbestos cement pipe water main within the

TRANSPORTATION & ENGINEERING PROJECTS IN DESIGN Interstate 5/ Trosper Road/ Capitol Boulevard Reconfiguration Project

The project is expected to go out to bid in May. City

Transportation and Engineering staff are completing the

final review of the plans, specifications, and estimates with

the consultant. Construction is expected to begin in summer/fall of 2022.

Capitol Boulevard, Israel Road to M Street Design

project limits. Preliminary engineering includes project scoping and design work.

PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION Interstate 5/ Trosper Road/ Capitol Boulevard

Reconfiguration Project – Building Demolition The building demolition project is physically complete, with all three buildings removed and the project sites

stabilized. This was needed to provide the property

required to construct the new 6th Avenue connector

between Lee Street and Trosper Road, and the new roundabout at Capitol Boulevard and Trosper Road. Final

project documentation with the contractor is being

The City is working with the consultant and WSDOT to

completed for closeout. This step was an important

requirements. Current efforts are focused on the design

Trosper Road / Capitol Boulevard Reconfiguration

North-South Connector between Trosper Road and Lee

crews for helping make this a successful project.

complete environmental permitting and right-of-way

component in the preparation for the Interstate 5 /

of the Capitol Boulevard and X Street roundabout and the

project. Thanks to SKYCORP, Ltd., and City Operations

Street. Design is underway for both portions of the

project, with 60% design completion expected in May

2022. This project includes proposed improvements to Capitol Boulevard, from Israel Road to M Street, with

enhanced access control to local businesses and multimodel enhancements for pedestrian, bike, and transit.

348 Lee Street – Building Removal Site

WATER RESOURCES & SUSTAINABILITY Water Quality Wins for Tumwater As with every winter, we get a lot of rain, and it seems like this year has been epic! All this rain is great for recharging our aquifer with our water every day, however, it can also carry some nasty chemicals, and keeping our water clean is very important for our community’s health. Multiple efforts have been underway to help the City protect and deliver clean water like gas tank removal, and water quality sampling in recent months.

In 2003, the City passed Ordinance O2003-005, amending the Wellhead Protection Code protecting the City water supplies. This ordinance restricted certain businesses from operating within the six-month and oneyear Wellhead Protection Areas. These areas delineate the time it would take for a contaminant to reach the wellhead from where it is introduced, such as a spill. The Shell gas station, near the intersection of Capitol Boulevard and Trosper Road, is within one of these wellhead protection areas. It was determined the four underground gas tanks on-site were non-conforming and required to be removed. For over a decade, the City has been working with the owners to remove the tanks, and in fall 2021 the tank removal was completed. One more step in protecting our water supply is to have clean and safe water for the future.

In November 2021, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) adopted new rules for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The adoption set state standards for PFAS in drinking water. PFAS are a large group of manufactured substances that do not occur naturally in the environment and are resistant to heat, water, and oil.

PFAS have been used in a range of industrial and everyday consumer products, such as surface coating for carpeting and upholstery, food paper wrappings, nonstick cookware, and fire-fighting foams. Due to the fact that PFAS have been widely used since the 1940s and are nearly indestructible, PFAS have been found both in the environment and in blood samples of people exposed to PFAS in a myriad of ways. You may have also heard these substances called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in water, soil, or air and can travel long distances.

In January 2022, the City participated in a free PFAS sampling program through the DOH. This not only informed us if PFAS are in our drinking water, but it also satisfies the initial sampling requirements for the newly adopted rule. The City is happy to report there was no detection of PFAS at the Port and Bush wells! Results for the Palermo wells are coming soon.

If you would like to learn more about PFAS, visit the DOH website.

TUMWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF Planning for the possible formation of the Olympia Tumwater Regional Fire Authority (RFA) is underway and moving briskly. The RFA Planning Committee is meeting bi-weekly, with subcommittees convening between meetings. The Planning Committee has approved a charter to guide their work and approved a work plan and timeline.

The goal is to have a plan to submit to the Olympia and Tumwater city councils for consideration in the fall. If the plan is approved, both cities would need to take action to place it before the voters on the April 2023 ballot.

April 2022

FIRE PREVENTION With warmer weather and spring cleaning around the corner, residents often look to spruce up their property. A question that comes up frequently is whether residential yard debris can be burned. Residential burning is the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, pruning, and other yards and garden refuse originating in the maintained areas of residential properties, e.g., lands immediately adjacent to and near human dwellings.

For more information, please visit the Olympia Tumwater Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee webpage.

Brian Hurley

MEDICAL SERVICES OFFICER A documentation class for crews was hosted at headquarters. The class provided education for EMS and Fire-related documentation, specifically looking at all related legal requirements.

Crews ran on three cardiac arrests in March.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH In March, the Department provided ten residents with compression-only CPR classes.

Classes are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. If you are interested in learning CPR, contact Medic One at (360) 704-2780.

Residential outdoor burning is prohibited in the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and the urban growth areas of Thurston County.

With the recent wind storms that produced downed trees and broken limbs, many homeowners ask, "what can I do with my yard waste if I can't burn it?" Visit Olympic Region Clean Air Agency at ORCAA.org for a list of alternatives to outdoor burning. Their website also provides a map showing the boundaries of the urban growth area.

TUMWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS | April 2022

2

OPERATIONS On March 14, crews responded to a motor vehicle accident on northbound I-5, near exit 104. Four patients were transported to St Peter's Hospital.

On March 27, crews and mutual aid companies were dispatched to a vehicle fire.

Dispatch reported a van on fire in the home's driveway, and the owner was trying to put the fire out with an extinguisher.

Crews arrived to find smoke coming from the engine compartment and Tumwater Police Officers working to extinguish it with a garden hose and portable fire extinguishers. The fire was confined to the van, and there was no fire extension into the home.

The homeowner, Tumwater Police Officer Stacy Brown, and Sergeant Tim Eikum used several fire extinguishers to keep the fire from spreading to the house.

On the afternoon of March 22, TFD, East Olympia District 6, Olympia Fire, McLane Black Lake, and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority responded to an active structure fire in a single-family residence. Crews were able to get a quick knockdown of fire activity. Fortunately, the homeowners were not home at the time of the fire.