2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 43.43.960: State fire service mobilization — Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter.

(1) "Chief" means the chief of the Washington state patrol.

(2) "State fire marshal" means the director of fire protection in the Washington state patrol.

(3) "Fire chief" includes the chief officer of a statutorily authorized fire agency, or the fire chief's authorized representative. Also included are the department of natural resources fire control chief, and the department of natural resources regional managers.

(4) "Jurisdiction" means state, county, city, fire district, or port district fire fighting units, or other units covered by this chapter.

(5) "Mobilization" means that fire fighting resources beyond those available through existing agreements will be requested and, when available, sent in response to an emergency or disaster situation that has exceeded the capabilities of available local resources. During a large scale emergency, mobilization includes the redistribution of regional or statewide fire fighting resources to either direct emergency incident assignments or to assignment in communities where fire fighting resources are needed.

When mobilization is declared and authorized as provided in this chapter, all fire fighting resources including those of the host fire protection authorities, i.e. incident jurisdiction, shall be deemed as mobilized under this chapter, including those that responded earlier under existing mutual aid or other agreement. All nonhost fire protection authorities providing fire fighting resources in response to a mobilization declaration shall be eligible for expense reimbursement as provided by this chapter from the time of the mobilization declaration.

This chapter shall not reduce or suspend the authority or responsibility of the department of natural resources under chapter 76.04 RCW.

(6) "Mutual aid" means emergency interagency assistance provided without compensation under an agreement between jurisdictions under chapter 39.34 RCW.

[2003 c 405 § 1; 1997 c 49 § 8. Prior: 1995 c 391 § 5; 1995 c 369 § 10; 1992 c 117 § 9. Formerly RCW 38.54.010.]

Effective date -- 1995 c 391: See note following RCW 38.52.005.      Effective date -- 1995 c 369: See note following RCW 43.43.930.      Findings -- 1992 c 117: See note following RCW 35.21.775.