Fire Department · Combination
Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue
Coupeville, WA · Island County
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Department careers page ↗Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue traces its roots to 1928, when the all-volunteer Coupeville Volunteer Fire Department formed with a hose cart stored near the town library. The district expanded through the mid-20th century as Island County Fire District 5 was created in 1952 to serve areas beyond Coupeville, including Greenbank, and it adopted its current name in 1995 after decades of station-building and service growth.
Today the department serves the Town of Coupeville, the Greenbank community, and unincorporated central Whidbey Island (from north of Mutiny Bay Road to south of Libbey Road) using what it calls a "Three-Legged Stool" staffing model that blends full-time and part-time paid personnel with volunteer firefighters. The district operates out of a newly constructed (2024) two-story, five-bay fire station at 1164 Race Road, and runs a fleet that includes structural engines, water tenders, wildland brush engines, an ALS-capable ambulance, a rescue unit, and a marine rescue vessel.
Beyond emergency response, the department provides fire safety education and inspections, CPR/first-aid training, child car seat safety checks, home safety surveys, and an address-sign program for the community it serves.
MissionTo partner with our community to proactively reduce risk from fire, illness, injury, and other hazards.
CWFR staffs through a blended "Three-Legged Stool" model of volunteer, part-time, and full-time paid firefighters. Volunteer emergency responder and administrative volunteer positions are open with no prior experience required and all training provided; part-time firefighter positions require Firefighter 1 and EMT-Basic certification and are filled through the National Testing Network when open.
Requirements
- Volunteer emergency responder: no prior experience required, all training provided
- Part-time firefighter: Firefighter 1 certification
- Part-time firefighter: Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) certification
Hiring process
- Complete the membership application (PDF on the department website)
- Submit the application by email to slang@cwfire.org, or by mail/in-person to 1164 Race Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239
- Part-time firefighter candidates apply through the National Testing Network
Volunteers receive all training provided by the department; part-time firefighters train in apparatus operation and various fire/rescue skills, with a stated pathway to a full-time fire service career.
What areas does Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue serve?
The district serves the Town of Coupeville, the Greenbank community, and unincorporated central Whidbey Island, from north of Mutiny Bay Road to south of Libbey Road.
What is the "Three-Legged Stool" staffing model?
It is CWFR's approach of combining paid full-time and part-time personnel with volunteer firefighters, so on-duty paid staff provide rapid response while volunteers add capacity for simultaneous or larger incidents.
How do I apply to volunteer with CWFR?
Complete the membership application available on the department's website and submit it by email to slang@cwfire.org, or by mail or in person to 1164 Race Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239. No prior experience is required, and training is provided.
What is the district's fire insurance (ISO/PPC) rating?
The Washington Surveying & Rating Bureau (WSRB) rates the Town of Coupeville as Protection Class 4, and unincorporated areas as Protection Class 5 (within 1,000 feet of an adequate hydrant) or Protection Class 6 (beyond that distance).