The Port of Seattle Fire Department, based at Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) Airport, has earned a Protection Class 1 (PC1) rating for its ability to prevent and extinguish fires in the SEA complex, only the second department in Washington state to receive that honor. The certification was awarded by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB), a nonprofit public service organization providing data and information to insurance companies.
“Only one other fire department has earned a PC1 rating in our 114 years of operation,” said Karl Newman, President and CEO of WSRB. “This rating places the Port of Seattle Fire Department in the top 1% of fire districts around the nation. We congratulate Chief Krause, his entire team, and the Port of Seattle for this outstanding achievement.”
The Port of Seattle Fire Department (PSFD) is one of more than 130 communities evaluated this year. Each of the 663 communities in Washington is assessed on a five-year basis. The rating criteria includes fire department staffing, equipment and training capabilities, fire station and fire hydrant locations, water supply, and 911 response times.
“This is a significant accomplishment, and I’m very proud of my team and all the Port of Seattle stakeholders that helped us to achieve this high rating,” said SEA Airport Fire Department Chief Randy Krause. “We’ve worked hard over the years to develop our people, processes, and oversight. This recognition is a testament to the professionalism and competence of all facets of our organization, which should give confidence to our customers and employees who work all around the airport campus.”
Consisting of multiple buildings spanning across 2,500 acres, including the passenger terminal serving more than 50 million people annually, and the air cargo operations transporting over 400,000 metric tons of cargo around the world each year.
While there were advancements in many areas, two areas showed significant improvement:
• Substantial strides in its firefighter training program, expanding the type and amount of training provided.
• Fire code inspections saw notable increases in frequency, ensuring a safer environment for tenants, visitors, and airport personnel alike.
Properties within the airport will now be eligible for the PC1 classification. For everyone working at or traveling through SEA Airport, this high rating represents peace of mind with the assurance that top-tier fire protection is in place.
About Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB)
A nonprofit public service organization providing data and information to help insurance companies charge fair and accurate rates for both commercial and residential insurance policies. One of WSRB’s core functions is evaluating fire districts across the state.
About the Port of Seattle Fire Department
Established in 1955, this aircraft rescue firefighting department is located at SEA Airport. The department performs traditional functions including contending with structure fires, providing emergency medical services, dealing with hazardous material situations, and providing technical rescue. The vast majority of situations are quickly contained and not life-threatening. However, should disaster strike, the men and women of the Port of Seattle Fire Department are trained and ready to do what is necessary to preserve human life.
Contact
Perry Cooper | SEA Airport
(206) 787-4923 | [email protected]
Karl Newman | WSRB President & CEO
(206) 226-3636 | [email protected]
