South Bay Fire Department

08/27/2025

🔥 Welcome Aboard Wednesday! 🔥

Please join us in giving a warm South Bay welcome to Firefighter EMT Jonathon Riggsby!

Jon grew up in the East Pierce County area and now lives in beautiful Greenwater with his wife Abbie, their daughter Piper, their golden retriever Brady, and two cats, Rocky and Hopper.

With 10 years of experience in the fire service—including time with Buckley, Greenwater, and Boeing—Jon brings a strong background, a passion for helping others, and a great team spirit to SBFD.

When he's off-duty, you’ll likely find Jon and his family out exploring the outdoors—whether it’s hiking, skiing, or just enjoying the beauty of the PNW.

What drew him to South Bay Fire? The professionalism, the family-centered atmosphere, and the strong community involvement. We love that he’s already excited about all the great things happening here!

🎯 Fun Fact: Jon can solve a Rubik’s Cube without cheating… and yes, we’ll definitely be putting that to the test soon—so keep an eye out for the video! 🎥😉

Welcome to the SBFD family, Jon!

08/20/2025

🔥 Welcome Aboard Wednesday! 🔥

Say hello to Paul Barrow, one of the five new lateral hires bringing their experience and energy to the South Bay Fire Department!

Paul’s fire service journey started a little later in life—and totally by accident—but once he found his passion, there was no turning back. From volunteering in 2012 to working part-time and eventually going full career, Paul has done it all.

When he’s not at the station, you’ll probably find him hanging out with his two dogs or under the hood of a classic car.

Originally from Hampshire, UK, Paul now enjoys the peace and quiet of his own little oasis at home with his wife Sara and their furry companions.

He’s excited to serve the South Bay community, work alongside a top-notch crew, and make the most of the great equipment and opportunities here at SBFD.

Welcome to the team, Paul! We’re glad to have you aboard!

08/13/2025

🔥 Welcome Aboard Wednesday 🔥

Please join us in giving a warm South Bay welcome to Firefighter Keaton Christian! Keaton brings 8 years of experience in the fire service, having worked for state, federal, and local agencies. He’s handled everything from wildfires to structure calls — and now he’s bringing that depth of experience to South Bay.

Off the clock, Keaton prefers a kayak over a recliner and spends his days off hiking with his wife and their two dogs. He’s excited to join a department known for its professionalism—and its strong sense of family.

And if you’re wondering — yes, Keaton has double-jointed thumbs. Does that help in the fire service? No idea. But we’re not ruling it out.

Glad to have you on board, Keaton.

08/11/2025

08/07/2025

🚒 Congratulations, Lieutenant Gibler! 🎉

We’re proud to announce that Firefighter Bryce Gibler has been promoted to B-shift Lieutenant as of August 1!

Since coming back and joining SBFD in 2021, Lt. Gibler has demonstrated outstanding dedication, leadership, and service to our community. This promotion reflects years of hard work.

Please join us in congratulating Lt. Gibler on this well-deserved achievement. We look forward to the leadership and mentorship you’ll bring in your new role. 👏🔥

08/06/2025

🔥Welcome Aboard Wednesday🔥

Introducing Perle Harvey-Smith, one of five new lateral hires joining the South Bay Fire Department!

Perle’s firefighting journey started way up north in frosty Fairbanks, Alaska. Now, she’s landed here with us to stay close to family and soak up the best of nature — think hiking boots, swimming goggles, and sandy toes at the beach.

She’s pumped to dive into the South Bay scene, ready to protect the community and pick up some new skills along the way.

Fun Fact: Perle actually managed to use up an entire tube of chapstick before losing it — a rare feat indeed!

08/03/2025

At 07:33 pm, E83, E81, and BN8 were dispatched to a motorcycle vs vehicle accident on Boston Harbor Rd NE and 46th Ave NE. The motorcycle involved in the accident was in a ditch with one patient. Crews treated the patient's injuries so that they could be transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
Thank you to our partners from Olympia Fire Department, Thurston County Sheriff and Olympic Ambulance for assisting our units with traffic control and getting the patient safely transported to the hospital.

08/01/2025

🚒🔥Meet your member🚒🔥
This is Firefighter Ernest Smith!
Ernest started his fire/EMS career as a volunteer firefighter at the Griffin Fire Department while working at Olympic Ambulance, before being hired at SBFD in 2023.
Ernest is a military veteran, having served in the Army for six years.
He has also worked as a security contractor.
Ernest is married to his wife, Sara, and they have a three year old daughter.
When not working, Ernest likes to play video games and tabletop games.
SBFD is lucky to have Ernest on the team!💪

07/31/2025

🚒 Introducing Community Connect by First Due! 🏡📲

Help us help YOU by providing critical information before an emergency event happens.
With Community Connect, you can securely share important details about your household—like:
✅ Family members & pets
✅ Medical needs or mobility challenges
✅ Emergency contacts
✅ Gate codes or access points
This information stays private and secure and is only used by our firefighters and first responders when responding to YOUR address.
🛠️ Setting it up takes just minutes—and it could make all the difference in an emergency.
🔗 Scan this QR code to get started, or sign up today at https://www.southbayfire.com/community

Together, we can keep our community safer!💪

07/30/2025

📢 Now Hiring

Join Our Team as an Administrative Assistant
South Bay Fire Department | Olympia, WA

Are you organized, tech-savvy, and ready to make a real impact in your community? South Bay Fire Department is looking for a driven Administrative Assistant to help keep our operations running smoothly—and grow into a key support role for department leadership. If you take pride in strong administrative work and thrive in a service-oriented environment, we want to hear from you.

See flyer below for more information or visit www.southbayfire.com to learn more.

07/30/2025

🔥Welcome Aboard Wednesday🔥

Say hello to Angus Carpenter, one of five new lateral hires joining the ranks here at South Bay Fire Department.

Angus comes to us with nine years of experience at Mason County Fire and a solid background in building custom homes. So whether it’s framing a house or fighting fire, he knows his way around tough jobs.

When he’s off duty, Angus is all about the outdoors. If it has wheels, mud, snow, or a trail involved, he’s in. Dirt bikes, ATVs, off-roading, camping, hiking, basketball—you name it. He even builds Jeeps specifically for snowy conditions.

What drew Angus to South Bay? The chance to be part of a team that feels more like family—professional, tight-knit, and rooted in community.

Fun fact: Angus would trade 90 degrees for a snowstorm any day. More snow, less heat.

Let’s give Angus a warm South Bay welcome in the comments!

07/21/2025

South Bay Fire Department Welcomes Five New Career Firefighters

Thanks to the support of our community and the successful passage of Proposition 1, we are proud to announce the addition of five lateral hire firefighters to our career staffing! These experienced individuals bring valuable skills and dedication to our department, and we’re excited to have them on board.

Please join us in welcoming:

FF Paul Barrow

FF Jon Riggsby

FF Perle Harvey-Smith

FF Keaton Christian

FF Angus Carpenter

With their arrival, we are now halfway to our goal of adding ten new career members. This is a significant step forward for South Bay Fire, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of our community.

Stay tuned—we’ll be introducing each of these new members individually in the coming days. Be sure to say hello when you see them out in the community.

Welcome to the team!