On behalf of the men and women of Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, welcome to our website.  We hope you enjoy your visit and find the information provided useful and interesting.  If you have questions or are unable to locate the information you are looking for, please call 425-432-0200 or send us an e-mail. The mission of Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety is to provide quality, cost-effective, emergency services for the preservation of life and property. These services shall be compatible with the needs of the community and at levels reasonably permitted by publicly approved funding.

District Overview Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety (King County Fire Protection District 43) was formed in 1952 and is located in South East King County, Washington covering 55 square miles. The north end of the fire district borders Eastside Fire and Rescue (City of Issaquah). The eastside of the fire district abuts up against the foot hills of the Cascade Mountain range with much of the area governed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The southeast corner borders King County Fire Protection District 47, which is known as the Kangley/Palmer area of unincorporated King County. The southern area of the district borders along the City of Black Diamond and Mountain View Fire & Rescue (King County Fire Protection District 44). The southwest corner rests within the City of Covington which Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety provides emergency services to two square miles of. The Kent Fire Department provides emergency services to the balance of the City of Covington and to King County Fire Protection District 37 which borders the district on the west side to the Spring Glen Fire Department (King County Fire Protection District 40). This includes the Fairwood area of unincorporated King County. The Northwest corner of the fire district borders the Renton Fire Department and the City of Renton. The municipal services provided by Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety, in accordance with the mission and statutes that govern fire protection districts and fire departments, are: Emergency Medical Services (EMS); Basic Life Support (BLS) to include transport services; Fire Prevention/Public Education; Fire Investigation; Fire Suppression (vehicle, residential and commercial); Wildland Fire Fighting; Hazardous Materials Response-Operations; and Technical Rescue/Special Operations (High/low angle, swift water, surface water, ice rescue). The fire district responded to 3,130 calls for emergency assistance in 2006. These services are delivered from six fire stations, three staffed with career personnel 24 hours a day and three staffed with volunteer personnel. The district employs 60 personnel and 36 volunteers who operate 7 fire engines, 1 water tender, 1 wildland fire engine, 4 BLS transport aid cars, 1 special operations response vehicle, 1 portable air trailer, 3 command vehicles and 4 support vehicles. The organization is generally described as managed overall by the elected policy-making and governing body, the Board of Fire Commissioners, whose policies are implemented on a day-to-day basis by the appointed Fire Chief/Administrator. The Board and the Chief are aided in accomplishing the mission of the department by an appointed District Secretary, whose primary duties are administrative, including maintaining Board meeting minutes and records. Various fire service officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), volunteer firefighters, and other staff round out the district’s work force and accomplish the delivery of vital services to the public.

Value Statement The Board of Fire Commissioners and Chief Officers, of Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, hereby make known that they value the following in all members and staff.

• Trust, honesty, integrity, and accountability.
• Creativity, spontaneity, imagination, individuality.
• Sensitivity, receptiveness, and responsiveness to our community, other agencies, and fellow members.
• Cooperation, participation, and support of shared goals.
• Open communication within the organization, and with other agencies and the public.
• Productivity and achievement, pride and professionalism, and action in preference to inaction.
• Safety awareness on behalf of each member of the organization, and each member of the community we serve.
• Organizational and personal risk-taking and self-sacrifice, in order to achieve shared goals.
• Acceptance of change, innovation, new technology, and adapting to future needs.
• Enthusiasm, energy, personal growth and sincere efforts.
• Fairness, equity, consistency, stability, continuity, and reliability.
• Fiscal responsibility, meeting commitments to others, and providing for the future.
• Positive interactions in a non-threatening environment.
• Taking responsibility for our own action or inaction, and learning from mistakes.
• Respect for each other, and the decisions each of us must make in our areas of responsibility.
• Public service and the common good; in preference over personal benefit, convenience, or comfort.
• Organizational discipline, the subordination of the individual will to the requirements of the organization.

Vision Statement WE anticipate and respond to the needs and challenges presented to us by our dynamic community. WE embrace change and new ideas with proactive leadership throughout the organization. WE operate in an environment characterized by self motivated and goal oriented employees, where people lead by example in an atmosphere of openness, respect and trust. THE community expects us to be an efficient and valuable investment deserving of continuous improvement and support. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• WE communicate willingly, openly and honestly.
• BE responsible for your actions.
• WE respect and value others opinions

History Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety was formed in 1952. For more info:

Dwight VanZanen, Retired Fire Chief

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Chief Dwight Van Zanen.  Chief Van Zanen was Maple Valley’s Fire Chief from November 1980 until September 2001.  Chief Van Zanen will always be remembered for everything he did for this organization and Community.   During Chief Van Zanen’s 21 years, he provided the vision and leadership that made this Department what it is today.  He will be sorely missed; his contributions will always be recognized and appreciated, not only by Department members, but by the Community in which he served.    March 26, 2012. “We are merely the stewards of the Department that Chief Van Zanen built”   ~ Chief Doerflinger