SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 2771

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 1, 1994

Brief Description:  Allowing permits for instruction in methods of fire fighting.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Chappell, Brumsickle, Chandler, Sehlin, Hansen, L. Thomas, McMorris, Fuhrman, Dyer, Schoesler, Sheahan, Holm and Basich)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Fraser, Chairman; Deccio, McCaslin, Moore, Morton, Sutherland and Talmadge.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786‑7464)

Hearing Dates: February 22, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Under the state Clean Air Act, an active air pollution control authority is created in every county with a population of 125,000 or more and an inactive air pollution control authority is created in every other county.  The county legislative authority may adopt a resolution activating its inactive air pollution control authority. 

Permits for fires for fire fighting instruction are issued by the local air pollution control agency, or the Department of Ecology in counties without a local air pollution control agency.

SUMMARY:

Without obtaining a permit from the local air pollution control authority or the Department of Ecology, fire protection districts may set fire to structures for training purposes if the structures are located outside of an urban growth area in a county that plans under the Growth Management Act, or outside of a city with a population of 10,000 in other counties.

These fires must meet the following conditions:  (1) other permits and licenses must be obtained; (2) the fire may not be located in an area declared to be in an air pollution episode or any stage of an impaired air quality; (3) the fire is subject to nuisance laws; (4) notice of the fire must be provided to owners of adjacent property; (5) structures that are to be set on fire must be identified; and (6) the structures must be inspected for the presence of asbestos and asbestos must be removed.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is identical to Senate Bill 6103 which was passed out of this committee.  The bill meets all of our concerns.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Dave Chappell, prime sponsor; Roger Ferris, WA Fire Comm. Assn.; Otto Jensen, WSAFC; Mel Lowe, Thurston County Fire District #6