Central Grays Harbor Professional Firefighters Local 315

09/24/2026

🚒🚨We are hiring🚒🚨
The Hoquiam Fire Department is accepting applications for entry level and lateral Firefighter/Paramedic. We have an immediate opening. Come work for a great team.

07/29/2026

Today, the members of Central Grays Harbor Professional Firefighters Local 315 join the fire service community in mourning the loss of Firefighter Jake Johnson of the Lacey Fire District.

Our hearts are with Jake’s family, friends, and all of our brothers and sisters at Lacey Fire during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of one firefighter is felt by every firefighter, reminding us of the bonds we share and the sacrifices made in service to our communities.

Please keep everyone who knew and loved Jake in your thoughts as they navigate the days ahead.

Rest easy, Brother. Your watch is over. We will take it from here.

With heavy hearts, Lacey Fire District 3 mourns the loss of Firefighter Jake Johnson.
 
Jake was a firefighter, a teammate, and a friend who answered the call to serve others with courage and compassion. His loss is felt deeply by everyone who knew him and served alongside him.
 
Over the past several days, we have witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of love and support from our community and from people far beyond it. The prayers, messages of hope, and countless acts of kindness shared on Jake’s behalf have been a powerful reminder of the impact he had on those around him and the strength of the fire service family and the communities we serve.
 
We extend our deepest gratitude to the responding crews from Olympia and Tumwater Fire Departments, and the teams at Providence St. Peter Hospital and Harborview Medical Center who cared for Jake throughout this journey. These dedicated professionals provided extraordinary skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment. The care and kindness they showed Jake and his family will never be forgotten.
 
Our hearts are with Jake’s family, his loved ones, his friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss. We ask that you continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy in the days ahead.
 
Details regarding memorial services will be shared as they become available.
 
Jake, you will always be remembered as a firefighter, a teammate, and a friend. Our Lacey Fire family will carry you with us.

07/27/2026

A Place of Honor. A Legacy of Service.

Standing proudly in front of Aberdeen’s Central Fire Station is a memorial that represents far more than polished black granite—it represents generations of dedication, sacrifice, and family.

The Black Granite Firefighter Memorial was unveiled in May 1994 as a way for the department to honor those who have served the Aberdeen Fire Department and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The memorial also recognizes Honorary Firefighters—individuals whose support, leadership, and inspiration have left a lasting impact on the department and the fire service.

This meaningful project was spearheaded by firefighters Keith Questi and Ray Winter, with funding provided entirely by the firefighters themselves. Ray Winter once said:

“Firefighters are a different breed, but from state to state, they are all the same.”

Those words continue to ring true today.

Engraved on the memorial are the names of four Aberdeen firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty, ensuring their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. It also stands as a tribute to every member who has answered the call to serve our community.

We honor our past, remember our fallen, and carry their legacy forward every day.

Never Forgotten. Always Honored. ❤️🚒

07/25/2026

Central Grays Harbor Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 315, is proud to announce our unanimous endorsement of retired Aberdeen Fire Captain JR Streifel for Grays Harbor County Commissioner.

Captain Streifel dedicated 25 years of service to the citizens of Grays Harbor with AFD, and he understands firsthand the challenges facing first responders, public safety, and the communities we serve.

Since his appointment to the Board of County Commissioners, JR has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service by engaging with complex county issues, listening to stakeholders, and working collaboratively to find practical solutions.

Our endorsement reflects more than JR's distinguished career, it reflects our confidence in his leadership, integrity, and commitment to serving you.

We look forward to working with Commissioner Streifel to advance policies that strengthen public safety, support working families, and build a stronger Grays Harbor County.

Congratulations, JR. We are proud to stand with one of our own.

07/23/2026

Our thoughts are with our brother Jake Johnson. Donation link in comments.

Following a life-threatening accident, one of our own, Firefighter Jake Johnson of Lacey Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2903, remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center with extensive injuries.

Jake’s family, friends, his Lacey Fire brothers and sisters, and the broader fire service community are rallying around him during this difficult time. The WSCFF is sharing this opportunity for our members and supporters to come together and provide support directly to Jake and his family.

Donations can be made through the official Lacey Firefighters Charity Venmo account: www.venmo.com/u/lfd3firefighterscharity

Please consider sharing this link with your networks to help spread the word and ensure Jake and his family receive the support they need during this incredibly challenging time.

07/10/2026

☀️ The sunshine is finally here in Grays Harbor—but so is an increased risk of wildfire. 🌲🔥

When we think of wildfires, many of us picture Eastern Washington. The reality is that Western Washington isn’t immune. It only takes a few hot, dry days, an unattended campfire, a dragging trailer chain, or a spark from equipment to start a fire that can spread quickly through dry grass, brush, and timber.

The members of Central Grays Harbor Firefighters IAFF Local 315 encourage everyone to take a few minutes this weekend to make your home and property more wildfire ready:

🏡 Remove dry grass, leaves, and brush from around your home.
🌿 Keep the first 5 feet around your home free of combustible materials whenever possible.
🌲 Trim tree branches away from roofs and chimneys, and remove dead vegetation.
🔥 Move firewood, propane tanks, and other flammable materials away from structures.
🚗 Avoid parking hot vehicles on dry grass and be careful when towing trailers—dragging chains can create sparks.
🚫 Always follow local burn restrictions and completely extinguish campfires.

Wildfire preparedness isn’t just about protecting your home—it’s about protecting your neighbors, our forests, and giving firefighters the safest opportunity to defend your property if the unexpected happens.

Let’s all do our part to keep Grays Harbor safe this summer. Stay vigilant, look out for one another, and if you see smoke or fire, call 911 immediately.

07/06/2026

This Fourth of July weekend was a busy one for the professional firefighters of Aberdeen and Hoquiam. Our members responded to multiple a EMS calls🚑, two simultaneous structure fires 🏠 🔥 , and countless other emergencies all while ensuring our communities continued to receive the service they deserve.

One of the best examples of regional cooperation came through our partnership with Grays Harbor Fire District 7. Knowing the North Beach would see a significant increase in visitors over the holiday, GHFD7 requested a Hoquiam ALS unit to stand by in their district.

That proactive decision meant advanced life support was already in place when seconds mattered most, providing faster care to critically ill and injured patients while allowing neighboring departments to remain available for emergencies in their own communities.

This is what the fire service is all about. Professional firefighters don’t stop at city limits we work together, share resources, and back one another up whenever our neighbors need help. These partnerships strengthen the entire region and ensure our communities receive the highest level of emergency service possible.

To all of our firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and partner agencies who worked throughout the holiday weekend thank you. Your commitment, professionalism, and teamwork never go unnoticed.🚑🚒👨‍🚒👨🏽‍🚒👨🏻‍🚒👩🏼‍🚒

06/18/2026

🚒🔥 STAFFING SAVES LIVES 🔥🚒
When emergencies happen, every second counts.

NFPA 1710 recommends a minimum of 4 firefighters on every engine company responding to a residential structure fire. Those firefighters perform critical tasks such as fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, water supply, and firefighter safety.

👨‍🚒 Current staffing levels in our communities:

🚒 Aberdeen Fire Department:
✅ Minimum Staffing: 9
Typical apparatus staffing:
🚒 Engine 10 – 3 Firefighters
🚑 Medic 10– 2 Firefighters
🚒/🚑 Engine 12/Medic 12- cross staffed with 3 firefighters
👨‍💼 Battalion Cheif 10 – 1 firefighter

🚒 Hoquiam Fire Department:
✅ Minimum Staffing: 5
Typical apparatus staffing:
🚒/🚑/👨‍💼Engine 1/Medic 1/ Command 1/ Ladder 1 – cross staffed with 3 Firefighters
🚒 Engine 2/Medic 2 – cross staffed with 2 Firefighters

🤝 Aberdeen and Hoquiam firefighters work together every day through mutual aid. However, there have been many times when one department is committed to a structure fire, medical emergency, or multiple incidents at once leaving the neighboring city to rely solely on the firefighters currently on duty until help becomes available.

🚨 Emergencies don’t take turns.
🚨 Multiple calls happen at the same time.
🚨 Staffing matters.

Because when you call 911, you deserve a rapid, safe, and effective response.

🚒 Staffing Today. Protection Tomorrow. 🚒

06/07/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month.

For firefighters (EMT and/or Paramedic) trauma isn't something we witness once—it's something we carry with us throughout our careers. Every call becomes part of our story. Some calls stay with us long after the sirens are silent.

Many of us carry memories of difficult incidents, tragic outcomes, and moments that changed us forever. For some, those experiences become PTSD. For others, they show up as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, or emotional exhaustion.

This month, let's continue to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service. Checking in on your crew, asking for help, and supporting one another are signs of strength—not weakness.

You are not alone. We carry the calls together.

Sharing Tacoma Fire Departments video sharing The Call We Carry



https://youtu.be/M44NNoDLEo0?si=BKasc8m64I5l7OHZ

Follow the journeys of 4 Tacoma Firefighters, as they share their s...

06/03/2026

Firefighters spend roughly one-third of their lives in the fire station. When stations are aging, overcrowded, and suffering from issues like water intrusion, mold, poor ventilation, and inadequate living spaces, it becomes more than a building problem, it becomes a firefighter health and safety issue.

These concerns hit close to home for many of our members. Aberdeen’s fire stations were built in the 1960s and are showing their age. Hoquiam’s headquarters station was built in 1971. Like many departments across the country, we continue to face challenges with aging facilities.

Our members remain committed to serving our community while continuing to advocate for safe, healthy working conditions for the firefighters who serve it.

Water stains spread across ceilings. Mold creeping through walls. Sewage leaks. Toxic fumes drifting into living quarters.