KP Fire Update: Board Meets Regarding July Altercation

The Key Peninsula Fire District Board of Commissioners held an executive session at its regular meeting Oct. 14 to discuss what sources described as an internal personnel matter connected to an incident that happened during a July union meeting.

While KPFD hasn’t released details, the incident was described as a disagreement among members that resulted in a physical altercation between two firefighters. A police report was filed, and the district conducted its own internal review. Disciplinary action was taken against one firefighter, and the employee has since returned to the payroll following a month-long, unpaid suspension.

The situation adds to an already active fall for the district as it navigates a Key Center property sale and prepares to announce its 2026 budget.

Town Hall Back on the Calendar

Commissioner Cambria Queen said at the Oct. 14 meeting that the board hadn’t held a town hall since June 28, outside the quarterly schedule the commissioners agreed to stick to earlier.

The board voted to host the next town hall Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Key Center fire station. Because of the Veterans Day holiday, the regular November board meeting will move from Nov. 11 to Nov. 14 at the same time and location. Commissioners are expected to vote on the 2026 budget, which Chief Nick Swinhart presented in late October.

Who Can Write a Ticket?

Swinhart and Deputy Chief Chris Beswick recently met with Pierce County Fire Marshal Ken Rice to discuss illegal burning on the Key Peninsula.

Currently, KPFD doesn’t have the authority to issue citations for illegal burns. Rice said his office is willing to help cite cases where property damage, safety threats, or repeat offenders are involved, though response times could be as long as 90 minutes. Swinhart said that a KPFD engine would need to be out of action and stay on scene during that entire time.

“That may not be realistic in most cases,” Swinhart said. “There are definitely kinks that we’ll have to work out.”

Puget Sound Clean Air also has the authority to cite illegal burns, but Swinhart said the district struggles to reach anyone there.

He suggested KPFD may look into obtaining its own credentials to issue citations for illegal burns, though that process will take time to understand.

New Volunteers and Recruits on the Way

Volunteer Battalion Chief and Public Information Officer Anne Nesbit reported that three volunteer firefighters recently completed Firefighter 1 training and testing in October. They’ll now spend the next six weeks in hazardous materials training.

In addition, three new career firefighter recruits are scheduled to graduate in December and are expected to join the department shortly after.