Fire Department · Combination
Mclane Black Lake Fire Dept - Thurston County Fire District 9
Olympia, WA · Thurston County
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Department careers page ↗McLane Black Lake Fire Department, operating as Thurston County Fire District 9, is a combination career-and-volunteer department covering an 84-square-mile response area west of Olympia that includes Cooper Point, Black Lake, Delphi Valley, Summit Lake, McLane, Alpine Hills, and part of Capitol Forest. The district traces back to three separate volunteer companies — McLane (1950), Black Lake (1952), and Summit Lake (1957) — that gradually consolidated over decades, culminating in a 2018 voter-approved merger that folded Fire District 5 fully into District 9. Today the department runs five stations, with Station 91 (headquarters) and Station 95 staffed around the clock, and fields a fleet that includes engines, water tenders, aid units, brush trucks, a ladder truck, and a dedicated technical rescue apparatus.
The department provides basic life support (BLS) response through its own firefighter/EMTs, with advanced life support (ALS) backed up by Thurston County Medic One. Volunteers form the backbone of the district's growth pipeline, training through an in-house IFSAC-accredited academy that also feeds the department's career firefighter ranks.
MissionProtect the lives and property of the people we serve
McLane Black Lake Fire Department is a combination department: career firefighters staff the district alongside volunteers, and the volunteer ranks serve as the primary pipeline into career positions. The department does not post a standing online job application for career slots; interested candidates are directed to contact the department directly. Volunteer firefighters train through the district's own IFSAC-accredited academy and, after completing training, take on a recurring monthly shift commitment.
Requirements
- Complete the district's Volunteer Firefighter Academy (IFSAC-accredited, meets Washington State Firefighter I standards)
- Commit to a minimum of 36 hours of participation per month after initial training
- Meet annual and quarterly training obligations
- Provide own personal leather safety boots (all other PPE and equipment supplied by the district)
Hiring process
- Contact the department (360-866-1000 or via the website contact page) to express interest
- Enroll in the four-month Volunteer Firefighter Academy (Tuesday/Thursday evening classes plus Saturday practical skills sessions)
- Complete training in fire behavior, suppression, water supply, ventilation, search and rescue, tool use, PPE, and SCBA
- Begin volunteer shift service, fulfilling the required 36 hours per month plus ongoing training requirements
Benefits
Volunteers are unpaid but receive reimbursement for calls and drills attended, per diem compensation for shift time, and insurance coverage through the Washington State Board of Volunteer Firefighters, including limited pay-loss reimbursement and line-of-duty death benefits. The district supplies all equipment except personal leather boots.
In-house, IFSAC-accredited Volunteer Firefighter Academy meeting Washington State Firefighter I standards; four months, with Tuesday/Thursday evening classroom sessions and Saturday hands-on skills training.
How do I become a firefighter with McLane Black Lake Fire Department?
The department is a combination career-and-volunteer agency; most firefighters start through the district's own Volunteer Firefighter Academy, an IFSAC-accredited, four-month program that also serves as the pipeline into career positions. Interested applicants should contact the department directly.
Does McLane Black Lake Fire Department hire paid (career) firefighters?
Yes — the district employs career firefighters alongside its volunteer force, staffing headquarters (Station 91) and Station 95 around the clock. There is no standing online job posting; career openings are filled largely from the volunteer ranks, and candidates should contact the department for current opportunities.
What are the requirements to become a volunteer firefighter?
Volunteers must complete the district's Volunteer Firefighter Academy, meet Washington State Firefighter I standards, commit to at least 36 hours of participation per month after training, fulfill annual and quarterly training requirements, and provide their own personal leather safety boots (the district supplies all other equipment).
What areas does McLane Black Lake Fire Department serve?
The district covers an 84-square-mile area west of Olympia, Washington, including Cooper Point, Black Lake, Delphi Valley, Summit Lake, McLane, Alpine Hills, and part of Capitol Forest, serving more than 20,000 residents.
How many fire stations does McLane Black Lake Fire Department operate?
Five: Station 91 (headquarters, 125 Delphi Rd NW, staffed 24 hours), Station 92 (3204 36th Ave NW), Station 93 (2815 Summit Lake Shore Rd NW), Station 94 (6005 Cooper Point Rd NW), and Station 95 (5911 Black Lake Blvd SW, staffed 24 hours), all in Olympia, WA.