Our Department
The South Kitsap Community has its center in the City of Port Orchard, WA. Surrounding the county seat lies the 16 stations of South Kitsap Fire and Rescue. The settings for these stations include waterfront, suburban, and rural communities. These communities include the City of Port Orchard, Orchard Heights, Retsil, Manchester, Olalla, Burley, Glenwood, Sunnyslope, Navy Yard City, and Gorst. Altogether, these small communities and neighborhoods encompass 127 square miles and set the boundaries for our district.
The district serves an estimated population of 78,500 citizens and is governed by a Board of five elected Fire Commissioners who focus on the needs of the community and progressively set the policy and direction for the district at large.
The Headquarters station, located in the Orchard Heights neighborhood, is the central office for the District’s Administrative Division and Management Team. The Fire Chief and Deputy Chief oversee the three shift Battalion chiefs, two administrative Battalion Chiefs, and office staff. Organizationally, South Kitsap Fire and Rescue is served through the Operations Division and a Support Services Division.
The Operations Division includes the coordination of our paid firefighters and Volunteer Firefighter Program. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue maintains a career staff of 84 and also utilizes over 50 Volunteer Firefighters. These personnel are stationed throughout the district at one of the seven 24-hour staffed stations, or nine volunteer stations. As South Kitsap Fire Rescue prepares for its future, plans for additional stations are underway for additional staffing in the Manchester and McCormick woods communities.
South Kitsap Fire and Rescue's Support Services Division encompasses Physical Resources, Prevention, Human Resources, and Administrative Services. Physical Resources include equipping, supplying, and maintaining all district facilities; purchasing and maintaining 70 pieces of emergency and staff vehicles and providing tools, equipment, and uniforms for all of our members.
Services include but are not limited to all types of natural and man made emergencies including fire responses, ALS and BLS emergency medical services and transports, rescue events, hazardous conditions, emergent and non-emergent service calls, company inspections, fire investigations, code enforcement, public education and information are just a few of the services SKFR provides to their community.
General Information16 Stations Number of Alarms (2008)9,046 Total Events |
Staffing5 Commissioners |
Number of Apparatus18 Engines |
