2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 43.43.963: State fire service mobilization — Regional fire defense boards — Regional fire service plans — Regions established.

Regions within the state are initially established as follows but may be adjusted as necessary by the state fire marshal:

(1) Northwest region - Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, and Island counties;

(2) Northeast region - Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Lincoln counties;

(3) Olympic region - Clallam and Jefferson counties;

(4) South Puget Sound region - Kitsap, Mason, King, and Pierce counties;

(5) Southeast region - Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties;

(6) Central region - Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pacific, and Lewis counties; and

(7) Southwest region - Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania counties.

Within each of these regions there is created a regional fire defense board. The regional fire defense boards shall consist of two members from each county in the region. One member from each county shall be appointed by the county fire chiefs' association or, in the event there is no such county association, by the county's legislative authority. Each county's office of emergency management or, in the event there is no such office, the county's legislative authority shall select the second representative to the regional board. The department of natural resources fire control chief shall appoint a representative from each department of natural resources region to serve as a member of the appropriate regional fire defense board. Members of each regional board will select a chairperson and secretary as officers. Members serving on the regional boards do so in a voluntary capacity and are not eligible for reimbursement for meeting-related expenses from the state.

Regional defense boards shall develop regional fire service plans that include provisions for organized fire agencies to respond across municipal, county, or regional boundaries. Each regional plan shall be consistent with the incident command system, the Washington state fire services mobilization plan, and regional response plans already adopted and in use in the state. The regional boards shall work with the relevant local government entities to facilitate development of intergovernmental agreements if any such agreements are required to implement a regional fire service plan. Each regional plan shall be approved by the fire protection policy board before implementation.

[1997 c 49 § 11; 1992 c 117 § 12. Formerly RCW 38.54.040.]

Findings -- 1992 c 117: See note following RCW 35.21.775.