East Jefferson Fire Rescue

What East Jefferson Fire Rescue does

East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) is a combination career-and-volunteer public fire protection district operating as Jefferson County Fire Protection District No. 1, a junior taxing district of the State of Washington under RCW 52.02.020. The organization delivers all-hazards emergency response — fire suppression, emergency medical services (ALS and BLS), hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and marine rescue — across incorporated Port Townsend and unincorporated East Jefferson County communities including Chimacum, Marrowstone Island, Port Hadlock, and Port Ludlow. EJFR operates nine fire stations (five staffed 24/7, three volunteer/unstaffed, one administrative office) with a 33-foot fire boat (Marine 1 'Guardian') and a 29-foot marine rescue vessel (Marine 7) covering Admiralty Inlet, Port Townsend Bay, and Hood Canal waters. The workforce comprises 66 career staff (firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, one Facilities Technician) plus 38 volunteer personnel serving in FIT, EMS, Support, and Administrative roles; 2025 call volume was 5,854 alarms (69% EMS, 31% fire).

The department's core technology stack includes CAD-recommended apparatus dispatch, IFSAC-certified professional qualifications aligned with NFPA standards, and the Medic One partnership with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center — a 2,500-hour year-long paramedic training program. Specialized assets include the FLIR-equipped Marine 1 'Guardian' (1,250 GPM at 125 PSI) and marine rescue capabilities for waters around Naval Magazine Indian Island and Marrowstone Island. Community-facing product lines include free Home Wildfire Assessments (200+ completed in 2025), Hands-Only CPR classes, car seat safety inspections, blood pressure checks, fire extinguisher training, smoke alarm installations via the American Red Cross partnership, Project Lifesaver electronic bracelets, and the CERT training program. The CARES co-responder program (launched December 2022) identifies and connects high-utilizer 911 patients with social services.

EJFR's revenue model combines voter-approved property tax levies (Fire Levy restored to $1.40 per $1,000 and EMS Levy at $0.50 per $1,000 following February 2026 ballot approval) with transaction-based EMS patient transport revenue from Jefferson Healthcare and direct hospital transports. The organization is governed by an elected five-member Board of Commissioners and structured as a government municipal entity — it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no private equity or venture capital involvement, and no publicly traded equity. Strategic history shows a sustained consolidation strategy: the 2006 three-district merger, 2019 Port Townsend annexation, and 2023 Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue merger each passed with >87% voter approval. The department traces its operational roots to 1872 and currently operates under Fire Chief Bret Black (appointed December 2020), Deputy Chief Pete Brummel (CTO designation 2023), and Medical Services Officer Tammy Ridgway (first MSO, hired 2021).

Name

East Jefferson Fire Rescue

Legal name

East Jefferson Fire Rescue

Website

https://ejfr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

East Jefferson Fire Rescue is a public fire protection district providing all-hazards emergency response (fire, EMS, marine, technical rescue) to East Jefferson County, Washington via nine stations and a combination career-volunteer workforce, funded by voter-approved property tax levies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety / Fire and Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160), Ambulance Services (62191)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG), Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Fire suppression services
• Emergency medical services
• Marine rescue operations
• Hazardous materials response
• Community risk reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Townsend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levy - Fire Protection: Primary funding source through voter-approved property tax levies for fire protection services. Proposition 1 restores Fire Levy to $1.40 per $1,000 of property valuation as approved in February 2026 ballot measure.
2. Property Tax Levy - Emergency Medical Services: Voter-approved EMS levy providing dedicated funding for emergency medical services delivery. Proposition 2 restores EMS Levy to $0.50 per $1,000 of property valuation as approved in February 2026 ballot measure.
3. Patient Transport Revenue: Revenue generated from transportation of patients to hospitals and between hospitals. Although the majority of operating expenses are financed through property tax revenue, EJFR also receives income from EMS patient transportation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

East Jefferson Fire Rescue is a combination career and volunteer fire protection district providing all-hazards emergency response services including fire suppression, emergency medical services (ALS and BLS), marine rescue, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and motor vehicle accident response. The district also delivers free community programs such as home wildfire assessments, CPR training, car seat safety inspections, fire extinguisher training, smoke alarm installations, blood pressure checks, and CERT education. Operations are funded primarily through voter-approved property tax levies and EMS patient transport fees.

Product overview

East Jefferson Fire Rescue is a combination career and volunteer fire department providing all-hazards emergency response services. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS comprising approximately 74% of call volume), marine rescue, and technical rescue operations. Supporting these are community-facing programs including home wildfire assessments, CPR training, car seat safety inspections, blood pressure checks, fire extinguisher training, and CERT education programs. The department maintains 9 fire stations across the district serving incorporated Port Townsend and unincorporated Jefferson County communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Suppression Services Fire suppression and structural firefighting operations including response to residential, commercial, and industrial fires. Delivered by trained firefighters using specialized equipment and apparatus, including engines, ladder trucks, water tenders, and brush trucks across the East Jefferson County service area.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Emergency medical response and transport services staffed 24/7, providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) care. Paramedics deliver advanced pre-hospital emergency care including drug administration and medical testing, with EMS representing approximately 69-74% of total call volume. Includes inter-facility transport under contract with Jefferson Healthcare.
• Marine Rescue Services Marine rescue and firefighting operations covering Port Townsend Bay, Admiralty Inlet, waters around Marrowstone Island, Naval Magazine Indian Island, Protection Island, and Discovery Bay. Capabilities include 33-foot fire boat 'Guardian' with 1,250 GPM firefighting capability and 29-foot Marine 7 rescue vessel, supported by marine-trained EMTs and paramedics.
• Technical Rescue Operations Specialized rescue services including high-angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, trench collapse rescue, heavy machinery entrapment rescue, and hazardous materials response. Provided by specially trained personnel using dedicated technical rescue trailer and equipment.
• Home Wildfire Assessments Free home wildfire assessments where trained EJFR members walk around the exterior of homes providing specific recommendations to mitigate wildfire risk, including reducing combustible materials, preventing ember entry, and vegetation management. Targeted at homeowners and forested property owners within the district.
• Hands Only CPR Class Free CPR training for adults, children, and infants, teaching 'hands only' CPR skills to community members. Participants learn basics of CPR for home, community, and workplace settings through regularly scheduled classes at EJFR facilities.
• Car Seat Safety Inspections Free car seat safety inspections conducted by certified technicians, providing hands-on examination of vehicle design and restraint systems, installation verification, and recall checks for community members.
• Fire Extinguisher Training Free fire extinguisher training for groups including presentation, brochure overview, and optional hands-on training with a water/compressed air prop. Targeted at businesses, organizations, and community groups.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Education program teaching disaster preparedness for hazards and training in basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Includes Teen CERT programs for student members and engages CERT-trained volunteers to support emergency response agencies.
• Project Lifesaver Program to locate at-risk individuals who may wander, such as dementia or Alzheimer's patients, Down's Syndrome individuals, or those with Autism, using state-of-the-art electronic bracelet technology coordinated through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
• Community Risk Reduction Programs Data-driven strategic process to identify, prioritize, and mitigate local risks through inspections, education, and community engagement including fire safety education, smoke alarm installation in partnership with the American Red Cross, and Firewise community programs. Includes fire safety inspections, self-inspection worksheets, and free smoke alarm installations.
• File of Life Program Free medical and life-safety resource packet including hands-free CPR instruction, Air Care membership application, POLST form, and medication lists for refrigerator and wallet storage. Helps emergency responders quickly access critical medical information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% of call volume is EMS-related, 31% fire-related, with 5,854 total alarms in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Washington Cities / City of Port Townsend (CARES Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022In December 2022, EJFR received funding from the Association of Washington Cities together with the City of Port Townsend to establish the CARES (Community Assistance Referral and Education Services) program, a fire-based co-responder program modeled after the Poulsbo Fire Department's CARES program. The program identifies individuals with recurring 911 or emergency department needs and connects them with resources, reducing repeated use of the 911 system and emergency room trips.
• North Kitsap Fire RescueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Marine 7 was received in 2016 from North Kitsap Fire Rescue (NKFR) through an inter-local agreement when NKFR received a new boat through a DHS Port Security Grant. Through mutual aid partnership, Marine 7 provides first due response to waters of Port Gamble, Hansville, and Foulweather Bluff when requested.
• Jefferson HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2007Contract for inter-facilities transport between EJFR and Jefferson Healthcare signed in August 2007. EJFR handles patient transport logistics including transport numbers and scheduling. In 2006, prior to the official agreement, EJFR logged 1,450 transports; in 2007 this jumped to 1,698 transports.
• University of Washington / Harborview Medical Center (Medic One)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEJFR is a proud partner with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center's Medic One program. This partnership provides EJFR with access to one of the premier paramedic training programs in the U.S. (year-long, 2,500-hour program). Medic One was founded in the late 1960s by Seattle Fire Department Chief Gordon Vickery and cardiologist Dr. Leonard A. Cobb, introducing the concept that non-physicians could provide high-quality pre-hospital care. The program enjoys an international reputation for innovation and excellence in pre-hospital emergency care.
• Clallam County Fire District 3minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid agreement facilitating access to additional resources in the event of larger scale incidents. The agreement stipulates that EJFR will provide resources to Clallam County Fire District 3 in their time of need, and in return Clallam County provides resources (engine company or ambulance) to EJFR when needed.
• North Whidbey Fire and RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid agreement for resource sharing. EJFR provides resources to North Whidbey Fire and Rescue during their time of need, and North Whidbey provides resources (engine company or ambulance) to EJFR when needed.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEJFR partners with the Red Cross to provide and install free smoke alarms to the public. Interested residents can email [email protected] to schedule a free smoke alarm installation.
• Jefferson County Department of Emergency ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJefferson County DEM, established in 1988, coordinates available resources during disasters, develops response and recovery plans, and educates the public about preparedness. EJFR participates in the county's mutual aid network and CERT program coordination. The DEM maintains redundant communication systems, backup generators, and ARES/RACES amateur radio volunteer networks.
• Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (Project Lifesaver)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEJFR participates in Project Lifesaver, presented by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The program uses state-of-the-art technology and electronic bracelets to locate at-risk people who may wander, such as dementia or Alzheimer's patients, Down's Syndrome individuals, or those with Autism.
• Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue; Quilcene Fire & Rescue; Brinnon Fire Department; Discovery Bay Fire Department; Clallam County Fire Dist. 2; Department of Natural Resources; U.S. Forest Service; Olympic National ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-agency training collaboration for wildland firefighting preparation. Each June a 'Red Card' day is held to prepare firefighters for the wildland season, with instructors and personnel from multiple regional fire districts and federal agencies participating in 2-3 day training at Trail Nine golf course in Port Ludlow. Skills testing includes wildland urban interface/structure preparedness, progressive hose lays, water supply operations, fire line construction, and entrapment avoidance.
• Airlift Northwest / Life Flight (Air Ambulance Membership Programs)minorOthersAirlift Northwest and Life Flight air ambulance membership programs are promoted as community resources on the EJFR community resources page. These programs offer membership for air medical transport services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Seattle Fire Department: Large municipal fire department in WA. Originator of the Medic One program (1960s) and partner with Harborview/UW. While much larger and urban, it shares the Medic One medical direction and provides a metropolitan benchmark service-line template.

Direct peers

• Renton Regional Fire Authority: Regional fire authority in King County, WA. Career-staffed combination department with similar all-hazards scope, EMS-heavy call mix, and Community Risk Reduction programs. Comparable peer for cross-jurisdictional governance models.
• Clallam County Fire District 3: Combination fire district on the Olympic Peninsula, WA. Mutual aid partner with EJFR; comparable service area, all-hazards response model, and rural/WUI operating environment.
• Quilcene Fire & Rescue: Small fire district in eastern Jefferson County, WA. Mutual aid and joint wildland training partner with EJFR. Comparable rural volunteer/career mix and wildland-urban interface exposure.
• North Kitsap Fire Rescue: Combination fire district in North Kitsap County, WA. Source of Marine 7 (transferred to EJFR in 2016) and mutual aid partner. Comparable scale, all-hazards response model, and Washington fire district governance structure.
• Poulsbo Fire Department: Combination fire department in Kitsap County, WA. Direct peer: EJFR explicitly modeled its CARES co-responder program after Poulsbo's CARES program, indicating closely aligned service design and operating philosophy.
• Eastside Fire & Rescue: Combination fire department serving East King County, WA. Career-volunteer hybrid with mutual aid partnerships and similar Pacific Northwest operating environment. EJFR's Deputy Chief and Community Risk Manager both moved from Eastside Fire & Rescue.
• Bainbridge Island Fire Department: Combination island fire department in Kitsap County, WA. Operates Mariners (medical), fire suppression, and marine response with a similar mix of career and volunteer staff serving a comparable semi-rural island/coastal community.
• City of Bothell Fire Department: Municipal fire department in Snohomish/King County, WA. EJFR Commissioner Steve Craig retired from Bothell as a Lieutenant. Comparable urban-suburban combination department experience pool.
• Vancouver Fire Department (WA): Career fire department in Clark County, WA. EJFR Commissioner David Seabrook retired as Battalion Chief from Vancouver (WA) FD. Comparable career-staffed fire department with similar EMS-heavy call mix and Medic One-affiliated medical direction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-jefferson-fire-rescue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Jefferson Fire Rescue