2025 Annual Report.pdf

To our residents, partners, and members of Grant County Fire District 3, as we close out 2025, I want to say thank you. Serving the Quincy Valley and our surrounding areas is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and this year reinforced what we already know: when we work together, we are stronger, safer, and better prepared.
Our mission, Dedicated to Fire Prevention & Life Safety, guided every decision we made in 2025. Whether we were responding to emergencies, training for the next call, or meeting with partners to improve how services are delivered, the focus remained the same: provide professional, dependable service while protecting our members and the public.
This year, we continued strengthening the foundation of our organization. Our team invested heavily in training and readiness, improved internal processes, and worked to ensure our apparatus, equipment, and facilities support safe and effective operations. We also expanded our community risk reduction efforts, because prevention, education, and preparedness are some of the most powerful tools we have.
A major focus in 2025 was planning for the future of EMS in our area. We participated in important conversations and analysis with local partners, recognizing that sustainable emergency services require shared understanding, transparency, and a commitment to continuous improvement. These efforts ensure the people we serve receive timely, high-quality care today and in the years to come.
We also took meaningful steps toward updating our Strategic Plan. This work is more than a document; it is a roadmap. It will help us align priorities, evaluate needs, and make responsible decisions on staffing, training, equipment, and service delivery while staying accountable to the taxpayers we serve.
None of this happens without people. I am proud of our career staff, volunteers, residents, and support personnel who show up every day with professionalism and heart. I’m equally grateful to our Fire Commissioners for their leadership and governance, and to our regional partners, law enforcement, EMS, dispatch, public works, schools, healthcare, and neighboring fire agencies who work alongside us in service to this community.
As we look ahead to 2026, our goal remains clear: keep moving forward, improving readiness, strengthening partnerships, and delivering service with integrity and care. On behalf of Grant County Fire District 3, thank you for your trust and support.

 

Respectfully,
David Durfee
Fire Chief, Grant County Fire District 3

 

Grant County Fire District #3 is a multi-service all hazard Fire Department serving approximately 503 square miles of Central Washington. Our District consists of a mix of farmland, residential neighborhoods, recreational spaces, industrial areas, and wildland terrain, serving an estimated population of 15,574. We proudly serve the communities of Quincy, Winchester, Block 71, Low Gap, George, Sunland Estates, Trinidad, and Crescent Bar.
We operate out of eight fire station locations, housing 40 pieces of apparatus ready to respond to a wide range of emergencies, including medical aid calls, vehicle accidents, wildland fires, structural fires, hazardous materials incidents, and biological hazards. In 2025, we responded to 1,244 alarms, 716 of which were Emergency Medical Service calls. These activities require highly trained personnel, and our department is staffed by 60 volunteer firefighters, 30 Community Support Division volunteers, 3 Commissioners, and 13 full-time career members, people like you who are dedicated to serving their community.

 

The members and staff of Grant County Fire District 3 are dedicated to fire prevention and life safety.

We aspire to maintain the highest standards of training and readiness in order to serve our community to the best of our abilities, with the highest regard given to the safety of our members and the public we serve.

 

Service First

S – Safety for members and communities
E – Excellence in all that we do
R – Respect for volunteers as a vital part of our team
V – Value human and financial resources wisely
I – Integrity and ethical leadership from Board and staff
C – Clarity in our decision-making processes
E – Effective communication among staff and volunteers
F – Fun and energy in our work
I – Informing and listening to our communities
R – Representation of the Fire District in all we do
S – Strong teamwork across the District
T – Trust & accountability—holding ourselves and others responsible

 

In 2025, Grant County Fire District #3 responded to 1,244 incidents, reflecting an increase of 132 calls—or approximately 11.9%— over the 1,112 responses recorded in 2024. EMS calls continued to represent the majority of our workload, increasing from 573 incidents in 2024 to 716 in 2025. Fire responses also rose, growing from 124 to 149 incidents. The remaining calls in both years consisted of various “other” service types. These trends demonstrate a continued upward demand for both emergency medical services and fire response across the district.

 

In 2025, GCFD3 made meaningful progress in training, operational readiness, and organizational consistency under the Operations and Training Division. Efforts throughout the year focused on strengthening core competencies, standardizing processes, improving equipment readiness, and enhancing regional collaboration.
A structured district-wide training program was delivered through weekly drills, daily on-duty training, and officer development sessions. Training emphasized structural and wildland firefighting, extrication, highway safety, rope rescue, RIT, command operations, and firefighter health and wellness. Numerous members earned or advanced certifications, including IFSAC, EVIP, Red Card, instructor credentials, and EMT training, improving both emergency response and internal instructional capacity.
The Columbia River Fire Academy (CRFA) was successfully completed in partnership with Royal Slope Fire Rescue, Grant County Fire District 8, and the Washington State Fire Training Academy. The academy produced multiple newly certified firefighters and reinforced strong interagency cooperation across the region.
Operational improvements included expanding our 24-hour staffing to service the George area, optimized apparatus assignments, and the placement of new apparatus into service, including Rescue 3141 and Tender 3131. District-wide equipment upgrades enhanced extrication, ventilation, lighting, communications, and rope rescue capabilities. Several key policies and processes were developed or standardized, including command officer task books, onboarding checklists, gross decontamination procedures, and apparatus operator check-offs.
By year’s end, GCFD3 was better trained, better equipped, and more operationally consistent, positioning the district for continued success and service to the community in 2026.

• Training Hours logged by GCFD3 personnel = 4435 hours
• IFSAC Certifications Obtained = 38 IFSAC Certification

 

We’re excited to share that we’ve completed our EMS Comprehensive Plan, a major milestone in the continued growth and strengthening of emergency medical services for our community. This plan evaluates call volume, response trends, system performance, and future service needs, providing a clear roadmap to support smart, sustainable growth as demand for EMS continues to rise.
Our crews respond to a wide range of incidents every day, from routine medical emergencies to large-scale and complex events. These calls reflect the evolving and often unpredictable challenges our EMS providers face and reinforce the importance of proactive planning, adequate staffing, and ongoing training to ensure we remain prepared for any situation.
Alongside this planning effort, we are proud to recognize seven dedicated volunteers who recently completed EMT class. This demanding program includes more than 200 hours of classroom instruction, in addition to countless hours spent studying and practicing critical, life-saving skills. Their commitment represents a significant investment in both their personal development and the well-being of our community.
By pairing thoughtful, data-driven planning with the dedication of our volunteers and staff, we are strengthening our EMS system today while building a safer, more resilient future for everyone we serve.

 

Our Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention/Public Education oversees comprehensive fire prevention and community risk reduction services throughout the District. These responsibilities include annual inspections of existing occupancies, fire and life safety plan review for new construction, and origin and cause fire investigations. In addition, the District provides ongoing public education and outreach to promote fire safety awareness for residents, schools, and businesses. The Assistant Chief also serves as the Fire Marshal for the Cities of Quincy and George. Fire prevention responsibilities in areas outside the city limits of Quincy and George fall under the authority of the County Fire Marshal’s Office, with the Fire District working collaboratively with the County Fire Marshal to ensure consistent fire prevention services and code compliance throughout the region. Together, these efforts help reduce community risk, support code compliance, and enhance overall public safety.

Existing Occupancy Inspections:
GCFD3 is responsible to inspect, for fire and life safety violations, all commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings within the City of Quincy and the City of George.

Public Education Programs:
Fire prevention and safety is a team effort between our community and our fire district. We offer education programs to teach fire safety and prevention to children, seniors, and local businesses in our community.

New Construction Services:
GCFD3 collaborates with the City of Quincy and the City of George to review building construction and fire protection system plans to ensure compliance with applicable fire and life safety codes.

 

Plan Reviews Conducted: 28
Businesses Inspected: 52
Public Education Events: 70
Other CRR Activities: 95
Other Services Provided Include:

• CPR Training
• School Visits
• Station Tours
• Open Houses
• Fire Extinguisher Training
• Smoke Alarm Installation
• Pre-Emergency Planning
• Daycare Inspections

 

During the year, Grant County Fire District #3 made significant progress in modernizing, expanding, and maintaining its apparatus fleet to support operational readiness and firefighter safety. Several new units were fully upfitted—many completed in-house—and placed into service, including the Chief’s rig (3171), Command 3 (3172), a new rescue truck (3141), and a tender (3131). The district also strengthened its wildland and specialized response capabilities through the acquisition of a boat via the FEPP program, multiple 5-ton and 7-ton trucks from DNR, and continued construction and planning efforts to bring these assets into service. Apparatus were strategically reconfigured and relocated to improve fleet readiness, resulting in fully capable wildland units equipped with front-mounted remote monitors at every station. Additional safety and support enhancements included the installation of headsets in wildland apparatus, new E-tools, wireless lifts, a Genie lift pending training, and an upgraded generator on the rehab trailer to improve functionality and interior space. Concurrently, extensive maintenance and repair work was completed across the fleet, including major pump repairs, steering and compartment upgrades, and foam system improvements. These combined efforts demonstrate the district’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, reliable, and mission-ready fleet while planning proactively for future apparatus replacement through the development of specifications for two new pumpers.

 

Promotions:
David Durfee- Fire Chief
Jose Chavez- Mechanic

Retirements:
Jim Stucky- Mechanic

New Hires:
Todd Hufman- Assistant Chief
Jeff McCarty- Firefighter/EMT

New Volunteers & Residents:
Jorge Rivera-Vera- Volunteer
Kyle Parker- Volunteer
Gavin Gibson- Resident
Diego Salgado-Jones- Resident
Ethan Thomas- Resident
Destiny Marshall- Resident
Logan Anderson- Resident
Sam Hart- Volunteer
Faedra Taylor- Resident
Helena Neary- Resident
Jonathan Reeves- Resident
Tanner Boedcher- Resident
Christian Robbins- Volunteer
Jaiden Barrett- Resident
Corey Linscott- Volunteer
Adam Shelton- Volunteer
Leah Wells- Support

 

As we look ahead to 2026, Grant County Fire District 3 enters the year with purpose, momentum, and a clear sense of direction. The past year was one of transition and foundation-building, and because of that work, we are positioned to move forward with confidence.
In 2026, our focus will be on stabilizing what we’ve built, strengthening our systems, and turning planning into action. We will continue advancing our Strategic Plan, using it as a practical roadmap to guide decisions, investments, and priorities—always with an eye toward long-term sustainability and service to our community.
Operationally, we will remain committed to readiness, training, and safety. That means investing in our people, maintaining reliable equipment and facilities, and ensuring our response capabilities continue to meet the evolving needs of the Quincy Valley and surrounding areas. Whether it’s fire suppression, emergency medical response, prevention, or community risk reduction, our goal is consistent, high-quality service every day.
Just as important, we will continue to emphasize communication, teamwork, and trust within the organization. Every role—career, resident, volunteer, and support—plays a vital part in our success. No one stands above the mission, and no single function succeeds alone. Together, we live out our “Service First” values by supporting one another and serving the community with integrity and professionalism.
I am proud of this organization and grateful for the dedication shown by our members, our Commissioners, and our community partners. As we move into 2026, we do so united, focused, and ready to meet the future, whatever it brings.
Service First.

David Durfee, District Fire Chief