- Community Education
- Fire Responses
- Miscellaneous
Community Education:
Does South King Fire & Rescue offer CPR/First Aid Training?
SKF&R offers a CPR Class covering Adult, Child and Infant CPR, and an Adult First Aid/CPR class. Please call the CPR Information Line at (253)529-7203 for class information or view our CPR/First Aid pages.
How do I get information on the Juvenile FireSetter Program?
The Fire Stoppers program is an educational intervention program designed to educate parents and children about fire safety and the consequences of fire. Call the Public Education Office at (253)946-7337 or view our Fire Stoppers page for more information.
How can I schedule a fire truck or a firefighter at my function?
Call the Public Education Office at (253) 946-7337, 946-7246, or 946-7247 for information and scheduling.
Can I ride along with the firefighters?
Yes. Those wishing to ride along with fire crews must be at least 15 years of age, and complete a ride-a-long request form and waiver of liability. The forms can be obtained at the Headquarters Station or from our Community Education Division. Ride-a-longs cannot take place after 8 p.m. and the duration cannot be more than eight hours.
How do I find help installing a child car seat in my vehicles?
South King County Child Passenger Safety Coalition offers free car seat inspections throughout the year at South King County locations. Please see Car Seat Checks for more information.
Where can I get fitted for a helmet?
South King Fire & Rescue offers helmets ($7) and helmet fitting at several community events throughout the year. Contact Deb Wills of Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital 253-372-7729 for specific events in King and Pierce Counties involving helmet fitting.
Where can I get Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training?
The City of Federal Way offers CERT classes which are scheduled throughout the year. Contact the Volunteer and Neighborhood Program Coordinator at (253) 835-2652 or view the City of Federal Way website www.cityoffederalway.com for more information.
Fire Responses:
How does the 9-1-1 System work? What can I expect if I call?
The 9-1-1 call is received by a dispatch call receiver at Valley Communications Center in Kent. The call receiver prioritizes the call relative to its nature and sends SKF&R Firefighters/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The average time for a call to be received and dispatched is less than one minute.
As the call is received, the information is transmitted to responding firefighter/EMTs by an additional dispatcher. If deemed necessary, paramedics from King County Medic One are sent to provide advanced aid.
When calling from a cellular phone, your call will be received by the closest dispatch center. You may need to relay to them where you are calling from and they will connect you with the appropriate dispatching service.
Why do so many fire apparatus respond to simple incidents?
Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by 9-1-1. The Fire Department thinks cautiously when they respond to citizens in need of help. In other words, the firefighters are prepared to deal with the worst that could happen. They are fast, well-trained and pleasant in their response. A computer selects the closest unit to respond to an incident. The fire department's philosophy is to get our firefighters there as soon as possible. The first unit on the scene may not be an advanced life support unit (a unit with paramedics). Therefore, such a unit also may be responding. There may be three fire department vehicles on the scene for what appears to be a "simple" incident. However, in emergency services we have learned that if we assume something is "simple," we can be horribly mistaken. Plus, we respond as fast as we can and are prepared to encounter the worst. The winner in these situations will always be the citizen who needs help.
How come I see fire trucks with full lights and sirens go through a red light at intersections and then, after they go through, they turn off their lights and slow down?
As explained in the previous answer, sometimes several units are dispatched to the same incident. The first unit may have arrived on the scene, surveyed the situation and informed the dispatcher that the situation was under control. All other responding units were cancelled and put back into service, ready to take another call. Most likely, when you see an emergency vehicle go "Code Red" (lights and siren) through an intersection and then slow down and turn the emergency lights off, they have been cancelled from the call they were going on.
Miscellaneous:
How can I donate to the South King Fire & Rescue Firefighters Foundation, or the Des Moines (King County Fire District 26) Aid Fund?
Checks or cash are accepted at any South King Fire & Rescue fire station. Please designate which fund (Firefighters Foundation or Aid Fund) you would like to contribute to. An acknowledgement of your donation will be sent to you. See firefightersfoundation.org for more information.
Does South King Fire & Rescue donate used gear and equipment?
South King Fire & Rescue Fire Fighters Foundation donates its used gear and equipment to the Cabo San Lucas Fire Department. The Cabo San Lucas Fire Department is the distribution point for used equipment and gear to be sent to other fire departments in the area.
Does the fire department rescue cats in trees?
No. Please call King County Animal Control at 206.296.7387 or 206.296.PETS.
What do I do with old gasoline/oil/paint that I dont want?
In King County, call Household Hazardous Waste at (206)296-4692 and in Pierce County, call 1-800-287-6429.
Where do I get my blood pressure checked?
At any fire station during normal business hours. If you need your blood pressure taken, please ring the doorbell to alert fire crews of your presence. If firefighters are not out of the station on emergency calls, they will help you.
Where can I get my Fire Extinguisher checked or serviced?
South King Fire & Rescue does not service fire extinguishers. Please look in the yellow pages under Fire Extinguishers for the service provider closest to your home.
To determine if your extinguisher needs servicing, simply check the following areas:
- Check the pressure gauge on the fire extinguisher. The arrow should be in the green area straight up on the gauge. If it is not, the extinguisher should be serviced.
- The handle-locking device should be in place. If it has been broken, your extinguisher may need to be serviced.
- You cannot use fire extinguishers more than once without having them serviced. If yours has been partially used, it needs to be serviced.
- If your extinguisher is over 12 years old, you should have it checked and serviced.
- If any part of the extinguisher is cracked or broken, it should be checked or serviced.
* Tip: For ABC dry chemical type extinguishers (the most common type sold). Twice a year tip the extinguisher upside down and gently tap the canister with a rubber mallet to loosen the dry chemical powder.
Where can I get a key box for my building?
South King Fire and Rescue uses the Knox Rapid Entry System. To place an order you can contact them online at www.knoxbox.com then contact the Fire Marshal's Office to lock the key box once it is installed at (253) 946-7318.
Can I paint my fire lanes red?
No, fire lanes are required to be painted yellow with 18" high letters on the driving surface that state "NO PARKING FIRE LANE" at 50' intervals.
Where do I report damaged fire hydrants?
Damaged or leaking hydrants should be reported to the respective water department.
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Highline Water District
23828 30th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
(206) 824-0375
Lakehaven Utility District
31627-1st Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 941-1516
Water District 54
922 South 219th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 878-7210
Tacoma Water
3628 South 35th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 502-8247
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How do I call in an inspection request?
You can request an inspection for new construction projects or remodels by calling (253) 946-7318 at least 24 hours in advance.
Fire Extinguishers: What type do I need for my business?
South King Fire and Rescue requires every business have at least one fire extinguisher. It should be a minimum 2A; 10BC classification and kept in a location where it can be readily accessible.
How do I dispose of old fire extinguishers?
Residents in King County can dispose of empty fire extinguishers with their regular garbage.
How do I dispose of hazardous waste/liquids?
Paints, solvents, computers, televisions, fuels and some other materials are considered hazardous waste, and should never be thrown away with normal refuse. For more information on what constitutes hazardous waste and appropriate disposal of such items, see the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program website.
How do I dispose of LP (Propane) Gas tanks?
Empty liquid petroleum gas canisters less than two pounds (such as the small Coleman camping canisters) may be placed in the garbage. Larger canisters, either empty or containing gas, need to be taken to one of the household hazardous waste facilities.
Propane barbecue tanks should be exchanged at a propane supplier or disposed at household hazardous waste collection facilities. For more information please see the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program website.
Is a barbecue grill allowed on the deck of my apartment or condominium?
South King Fire and Rescue does not restrict the storage and use of barbecue grills on decks, although your home owner's association or apartment rules may. We recommend that you properly dispose of your coals in a metal container. Propane tanks larger than 5 gallon capacity will not be permitted.
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