PORT TOWNSEND — An assistant East Jefferson Fire-Rescue chief has received a commission from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in a unique arrangement.
The move will increase the fire department’s enforcement capabilities.
Brian Tracer, 44, was commissioned as a sheriff’s deputy in December, which gives him the power to cite people who have conducted illegal burns without needing to call law enforcement.
“This puts a little more teeth into enforcement,” said Bill Beezley, fire department spokesman.
“We don’t expect him to be giving out a high number of summonses, but he can issue them if the sheriff’s department is shorthanded and can’t get a deputy on scene.”
Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Stanko said the agreement “illustrates the spirit of cooperation between law enforcement and the fire service.”
“On occasion, firefighters will respond to an illegal burn and need the presence of a deputy to issue a citation,” he said.
“By having Assistant Chief Tracer deputized and able to fulfill that role, it reduces the workload on the two or three deputies I have on duty at any given time.”
Greater authority
The commission allows Tracer greater enforcement authority in his role investigating fires and illegal burning complaints and conducting fire code inspections on behalf of the fire department and Jefferson County.
The commission has powers throughout Jefferson County with the exception of the city of Port Townsend, where he works in partnership with the city building department.
Tracer remains on the fire department payroll, and there is no extra payment that goes along with the commission, Beezley said.
The idea was discussed for about a year, he said.
Prior to his hiring as assistant chief in 2014, Tracer worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for 21 years and has been a member of the Jefferson County Fire Investigation Task Force since 1997.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
