BCFD6 will be accepting Career applications for Firefighter/EMT until Friday May 12th. BCFD6 is anticipating hiring one Firefighter/EMT with the possibility of hiring a second in the near future.
Submit completed applications in-person to Chief Watt or email to chiefwatt@bcfd6.com. Applicants will be notified of interview process shortly after May 12. The anticipated start date will be the week of May 22nd.
Benton County Fire District 6 (BCFD6) is currently accepting applications for Volunteer Firefighter. In recent years our volunteer ranks have dwindled. BCFD6 is not unique in its need for volunteers. There is a national trend towards diminishing volunteer numbers. With busier lifestyles people have not been able to dedicate as much time to volunteering. BCFD6 understands you are busy. We will work around your schedule for training and participation. Please consider serving your community. Lives depend on dedicated volunteers responding in their time of need. Come learn skills that you will have for the rest of your life. The skills you learn as a volunteer will help keep you and your family safer. Volunteering for BCFD6 is an extremely rewarding experience; Help save a life!
Tactical Tender 1612 is the newest piece of equipment to be added to the Benton County Fire District 6 fleet. This HEMMT is one of two received from the Washington Department of Natural Resources through the US Forest Service. This military truck was converted by BCFD6 staff into an awesome wildland firefighting vehicle. The truck is 8-wheel drive and carries 2400 gallons of water. T1612 can also be used as a water tender to supply water to other fire apparatus.
Military HEMMT converted to a tactical tender
Tactical Tender 1612 modified by BCFD6 personnel to be a versatile off road wildland firefighting vehicle and a water supply for other apparatus.
Benton County Fire District 6, in the Paterson and Plymouth area, has taken delivery and placed into service a surplus boat from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. On March 16, 2021, the Benton County Commissioners approved the surplus sale of a 24-foot Wind River jet boat that no longer met the needs for the Sheriff’s Department. Interim Sheriff Jon Law and Fire Chief Rolland Watt negotiated the sale and a mutual aid agreement between the agencies.
The partnership between the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Fire District 6 will ensure a quick response during an emergency on the waterways in the south part of the county. In years past the Benton County Sheriff’s Office would have to trailer a boat from Kennewick to the south end of the county and that could take up to an hour to be on the water. With the partnership, Fire District 6 will drastically improve the response time and will be on the water within minutes. We will continue to work together and ensure our community members are safe while enjoying the water.
The Benton County Fire District 6 Commissioners supported the project and allocated funds to purchase, repair and upgrade the boats capabilities. Chief Watt applied for, and received, a $12,000 Washington Department of Natural Resources grant that assisted with the purchase of a new pump and firefighting equipment for the boat. The new boat allows for firefighting access to thirty miles of the Columbia River shoreline. Areas that were once very difficult to reach, are now accessible. Over several months the Career Staff and Volunteers of Fire District 6 worked on the boat to make it ready for service. The repairs and upgrades were completed just in time, as the boat has already been called for service several times on the Columbia River.
Completed Fire/Rescue Boat 1631
Completed Fire/Rescue Boat 1631
The surplus Sheriff’s boat before purchase
Since the partnership, Fire District 6 was able to launch the boat in an effort to locate a boat operator who had accidentally activated his emergency beacon, assist a disabled boater who was towed to safety and rescued several individuals from a sinking boat in inclement weather. In all cases the Benton County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to respond and assist Fire District 6 with crewing the boat as the information was being passed along by dispatch. An extraordinary amount of time was saved because of this arrangement between Fire District 6 and the Sheriff Department. Every minute is precious when responding to a critical emergency.
The Board of Commissioners of Benton County Fire Protection District No. 6 will hold a regular meeting of the Board from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Monday December 14, 2020. Attendees will participate remotely, via Zoom, due to the COVID19 virus. Governor Inslee issued a proclamation that temporarily suspends portions of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the Public Records Act (PRA) to help minimize in-person contact. Commissions are temporarily prohibited from holding in-person meetings with the public present. For meeting information please contact Chief Watt at (509)875-2029 or email Chief Watt at : chiefwatt@bcfd6.com
