Train Derailment Was First Major Response For Joint Fire Department

When two trains sideswiped each other on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line Saturday night and 14 cars derailed, crews from West Pierce Fire & Rescue arrived on the scene first.

Firefighters from both University Place and Lakewood worked the area. There were about eight units that responded, including a hazardous materials team from Lakewood.

The newly formed fire department ended up avoiding disaster, as both trains carried only freight and the extent of the environmental damage was 50 gallons of sodium hydroxide that leaked onto the beach but didn’t get in the water.

Still, Saturday night’s train derailment marked the first large-scale incident for the now-jointly operating departments, whose merger that Lakewood voters approved Feb. 12 becomes official Tuesday.

Patch asked Chief Mitch Sagers today how he’d rate the joint department’s response on a scale of one to 10.

“I’d say it’s a 10,” he said while standing about 20 yards away from damaged train cars along the Soundview Trail. “We shot right out of the gate. It all came together. The months of training, sitting down operationally, looking at how we can best deploy our resources, really paid off in a big way.”

Sagers, who headed the former University Place Fire Department, was referring to the fact that two departments began operating jointly even before the February vote.

Operations aside, he said, the biggest benefit to operating jointly was having on-site access to the Lakewood haz-mat team, which provided an immediate response.

University Place’s firefighters are trained in haz-mat operations, but not as haz-mat technicians.

“It was a great benefit that night because there were three of them on duty that responded in one of their ladder companies,” he said. “That saved us significant time.”

“Had we not had that, that’s another task that University Place, on its own, would have had to deploy people to and take away from the overall incident,” he added. “And it would have made a larger delay in getting the hazardous material people here.”

Also, he said, without Lakewood’s immediate response, UP would have deployed the majority of its personnel on staff, leaving the city’s coverage for other incidents bare.

For those who want to attend, the official signing of the papers for the merger is Tuesday at Lakewood Fire District 2, Station 21, 5000 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood.

There will also be a special ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday that will mark the official merger at the .

Here is the statement released by Sagers and Lakewood Fire Chief Ken Sharp:

After two years in planning and preparation, the voters have spoken and the realization of West Pierce Fire & Rescue is finally here. We are grateful for the generous support and trust we have received from University Place and Lakewood citizens. The concept of providing regional fire and EMS service is expanding throughout Pierce County, Washington State and the nation. As we move forward, citizens across West Pierce will continue to receive exemplary customer service provided with greater efficiencies and effectiveness. Thank you again for your support.

Mitch Sagers, University Place Fire Chief

Ken Sharp, Lakewood Fire Chief