I joined Clallam County Fire District 3 (FD3) on January 1, 1999. While that in no way makes me a Sequim original, I am, however, from a time “before the bypass.”

In 1999 Fire District 3 operated one staffed station on North Fifth Avenue in Sequim and was supported by six strategically located volunteer stations. We had a duty crew of four: a captain, two firefighter paramedics, and a firefighter/EMT on every shift (A, B and C).

The Sequim Bypass, known today as Highway 101, was designed to help improve the flow of traffic through the community, with enhanced safety and fewer interruptions. Today, FD3 operates three stations staffed 24 hours a day, with an additional three supported by volunteers. The population has grown and so has FD3’s call volume. FD3’s mission of Serve-Respect-Prevent-Protect perseveres and is unchanged.

My crew serves on A-shift, and we work a 48-hour shift. Combined, the A-shift officers have over 75 years of experience serving the Dungeness valley. FD3 has grown right along with the community.

A firefighter schedule is often glamorized, although in reality, it represents the epitome of service. We spend many nights responding to all kinds of incidents in what are recorded as “calls for service.” To every call, staff brings with them a resume of service beyond the basics. Firefighters come to your aid with years of career and/or volunteer service, some with distinguished military service, and all with unwavering pride in the fire service.

Respect is FD3’s promise to every one of its customers, internal or external. Today’s fire department provides resources to a myriad of events, emergency medical service (EMS) calls being the majority of responses. We still make house calls, coming to you when you’re not feeling your best. FD3’s professional paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are dedicated to caring for you. Providing kind and respectful medical care goes a long way in helping our patients begin their recovery.

While no two days are ever the same, Fire District 3 places a high value upon prevention. Today’s more modern term is Community Risk Reduction (CRR). Plainly defined, CRR is helping our neighbors identify behaviors and actions that constitute risk and mitigating those risks to lessen the impact.

Firefighters dedicate time each and every day, educating the community about safety strategies, whether it be the kids at the local elementary schools, seniors in their homes, or any number of social groups you belong to. Public outreach and skill-specific education like CPR and “Stop the Bleed” enhances the lifesaving potential and ultimate resilience of FD3’s neighborhoods.

On a recent fire call, one resident deployed their emergency fire blanket and extinguished an oven fire before firefighters arrived. The quick actions and prepared mindset saved their home, pets and all of their belongings.

FD3 provides a well-trained, highly disciplined fire company for the protection of the community. Protection comes in many forms, from fire inspections and code enforcement, fire apparatus, responses with water flowing and firefighters battling to stop the fiery inferno. Every job comes from a desire to protect the community.

FD3 is busier now than ever before, and with an increase in demand & limited resources, the mission remains the same. It is FD3’s steadfast commitment as members to answer the call. Just as before the bypass, it is our growing reality that changes are coming to our valley, and with them, FD3 will continue our mission to serve, respect, prevent and protect as your dedicated fire department.

Photo courtesy Clallam County Fire District 3/ Members of Clallam County Fire District 3s A-shift include, from left: firefighter/paramedic Casey Sires; firefighter/EMT Jared Romberg; Captain Kjel Skov; Battalion Chief Chris Turner; Captain Bryan Swanberg; firefighter/paramedic Leonard Horst; firefighter/paramedic Chase Laubach; and firefighter/EMT Jaisal White.