Any
fire protection district organized under this title may:
(1) Lease, acquire, own, maintain, operate, and provide fire
and emergency medical apparatus and all other necessary or proper
facilities, machinery, and equipment for the prevention and
suppression of fires, the providing of emergency medical services
and the protection of life and property;
(2) Lease, acquire, own, maintain, and operate real
property, improvements, and fixtures for housing, repairing, and
maintaining the apparatus, facilities, machinery, and equipment
described in subsection (1) of this section;
(3) Contract with any governmental entity under chapter 39.34 RCW or private person or entity to consolidate, provide, or
cooperate for fire prevention protection, fire suppression,
investigation, and emergency medical purposes. In so
contracting, the district or governmental entity is deemed for
all purposes to be acting within its governmental capacity. This
contracting authority includes the furnishing of fire prevention,
fire suppression, investigation, emergency medical services,
facilities, and equipment to or by the district, governmental
entity, or private person or entity;
(4) Encourage uniformity and coordination of fire protection
district operations. The fire commissioners of fire protection
districts may form an association to secure information of value
in suppressing and preventing fires and other district purposes,
to hold and attend meetings, and to promote more economical and
efficient operation of the associated fire protection districts. The commissioners of fire protection districts in the association
shall adopt articles of association or articles of incorporation
for a nonprofit corporation, select a chairman, secretary, and
other officers as they may determine, and may employ and
discharge agents and employees as the officers deem convenient to
carry out the purposes of the association. The expenses of the
association may be paid from funds paid into the association by
fire protection districts: PROVIDED, That the aggregate
contributions made to the association by a district in a calendar
year shall not exceed two and one-half cents per thousand dollars
of assessed valuation;
(5) Enter into contracts to provide group life insurance for
the benefit of the personnel of the fire districts;
(6) Perform building and property inspections that the
district deems necessary to provide fire prevention services and
pre-fire planning within the district and any area that the
district serves by contract in accordance with RCW 19.27.110:
PROVIDED, That codes used by the district for building and
property inspections shall be limited to the applicable codes
adopted by the state, county, city, or town that has jurisdiction
over the area in which the property is located. A copy of
inspection reports prepared by the district shall be furnished by
the district to the appropriate state, county, city, or town that
has jurisdiction over the area in which the property is located:
PROVIDED, That nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
grant code enforcement authority to a district. This subsection
shall not be construed as imposing liability on any governmental
jurisdiction;
(7) Determine the origin and cause of fires occurring within
the district and any area the district serves by contract. In
exercising the authority conferred by this subsection, the fire
protection district and its authorized representatives shall
comply with the provisions of *RCW 48.48.060;
(8) Perform acts consistent with this title and not
otherwise prohibited by law.
[1995 c 369 § 65; 1986 c 311 § 1; 1984 c 238 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 48; 1963 c 101 § 1; 1959 c 237 § 2; 1947 c 254 § 6; 1941 c 70 § 4; 1939 c 34 § 20; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5654-120. Formerly RCW 52.08.030.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 48.48.060 was recodified as RCW 43.44.050 pursuant to 2006 c 25 § 13.
Effective date -- 1995 c 369: See note following RCW 43.43.930.
Severability -- Effective dates and termination dates -- Construction -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Hospitalization and medical insurance authorized: RCW 41.04.180.
Use of city fire apparatus beyond city limits: RCW 35.84.040.