OCFD 6 Essential Services

• Structure Fires
• Wildland Fires
• Vehicle Fires
• Structure Triage
• Vehicle Accident Extrication
• Hazardous Material Response
• Emergency Traffic Control
• Mass Casualty Incident Command and Support
• Rescue Assistance to Aero Methow
• Contract Fire Protection to the Town of Twisp
• Mutual Aid to Other Fire Districts
• State Mobilization Agreement
• Pre-Incident Planning
• Public Fire Safety Education

Okanogan County Fire District 6 (OCFD6) is a professional organization of volunteer and career firefighters that provides fire, rescue, and emergency response services throughout the Methow Valley in Washington State.

Our fire district lies in the remote and rugged Methow Valley of north central Washington. This is located in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains approximately 30 miles south of the Canadian border and 200 miles east of Seattle. The fire district was founded in 1957 and covers an area of approximately 300 square miles making it the largest fire district in Okanogan County. OCFD6 provides fire, rescue, and emergency response services throughout its response area from Gold Creek to Lost River including all unincorporated areas within its boundary and the communities of Carlton, Twisp, Winthrop, and Mazama. There are over 5,300 residents living within OCFD6’s coverage area and over 5,700 structures, consisting of private residences, retail businesses, hotels, and industrial structures

The District operates out of four fire stations strategically placed at approximately 10 mile intervals along the main corridor through the Valley. Station 620 is located in Carlton, Station 630 is located in Twisp, Station 640 is located in Winthrop, and Station 650 is located in Mazama. Each Station is equipped with a structure fire engine, a brush fire engine, and a water tender. In addition, the Winthrop Station has a Fire/Rescue engine, an Urban Interface engine, a Rescue Support vehicle, and a second water tender, and the Twisp Station has a Fire/Rescue engine and a support truck. OCFD6 is classified as a combination department, which means its staff consists of both career (paid) and volunteer firefighters. There currently are a total of 50 firefighters, 5 career and 45 volunteers, responsible for providing emergency response services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day throughout the response area. Our personnel respond to approximately 300 calls per year, including structure fires, wildland fires, and vehicle accidents. OCFD6 also has Mutual Aid agreements in place with neighboring fire districts and participates in the State Mobilization emergency response program.

Emergency response operations, firefighter training, equipment and facility maintenance, public safety education, and facility operations are conducted under the direction of the Fire Chief and his staff of an Assistant Chief and three Captains. These are career firefighter positions that are appointed by the OCFD6 Board of Commissioners. Each station has at least one Lieutenant. These positions are staffed by volunteer firefighters and are appointed by the Fire Chief. Business and planning aspects of the District are the responsibility of the OCFD6 Board of Commissioners. The Board consists of three Commissioners who are elected public officials, and a part time secretary. 

OCFD6 maintains an extensive year round training program for all its members consisting of classroom and hands on skill training. Training is held each week for all members. In addition, there is a ‘Recruit’ School and ‘firefighter trainee’ school held annually for new members to learn the OCFD6 Standard Operating Procedures and the skills required to certify as Firefighter I. All our firefighters are required to take Wildland Red Card classes and certify as NWCG Wildland Firefighter II in order to respond to wildland incidents. In addition, we encourage our personnel to take advantage of a variety of specialty skill courses conducted by OCFD6 personnel and other agencies outside the District (e.g. the Washington State Fire Academy at North Bend), as well as nationally recognized on-line training courses.

The members of OCFD6 devote hundreds of hours of their personal time to training and emergency responses. They are proud to serve the citizens and many visitors of the Valley and invite you to visit one of their stations, take a tour, explore the engines, and learn more about OCFD6 operations and capabilities.