The Buckley Fire Department has been honored with the Fire House Award by the Washington State Fire Fighters’ Association.
Fire Chief Alan Predmore accepted the award June 4 in Wenatchee, during an awards banquet at the WSFFA’s 93th annual conference.
“It came as a complete surprise to us,” Predmore said of the award, which was given this year for the first time. The department’s nomination likely came from a member of the association’s board of directors, he said.
The statewide association grants several awards each year and its board decided last year to add the Fire House Award. It is given in recognition of a department’s efforts and support of its volunteer membership.
Predmore returned with a plaque that will remain at department headquarters just off Ryan Road, along with a perpetual plaque that will remain in Buckley until next year’s winner is decided.
In announcing the award, WSFFA Immediate Past President T.J. Nedrow noted that the Buckley Fire Department has consistently demonstrated the value volunteers contribute to the department’s mission.
“Support runs strong through the department and is seen within the community with every facet of the agency,” Nedrow noted in a prepared release.
The Buckley Fire Department has approximately 70 volunteers supporting its two full-time employees and a permanent part-time employee. Those volunteers, Predmore said, contribute anywhere from 20 to 104 hours of service to the department per month. At the maximum end of the range are 10 “resident” volunteers, eight who live at the Buckley station and two at the department’s Wilkeson station.
Founded in 1923, the WSFFA is the oldest statewide fire service organization. Its mission is to represent the interests of volunteer firefighters and EMS responders throughout Washington. Membership includes more than 400 fire departments and districts, representing approximately 15,000 volunteers.
Aside from the WSFFA, the Buckley Fire Department is a member of the Washington State Fire Chiefs Association, the Pierce County Fire Chiefs Association and the National Volunteer Fire Council.
