Port Angeles Professional Firefighters Local 656

10/01/2026

Happy October!

It’s been a busy summer and a busy year so far for your local firefighters!

Luckily, we’ve still been able to get in some solid training — you may have even seen our crews at the pier and the boat launch focusing on our water rescue skills!

08/26/2026

Please give a warm welcome to our two newest PAFD members of Local 656, FF/PM Waters and FF/EMT Martin!

Our two newest members participated in a weeklong day academy at the beginning of this month and are now both officially counting for staffing in their respective assignments — FF/PM Waters is assigned to one of our Day Cars and FF/EMT Martin is assigned to B-Shift.

To help you get to know them, we asked them each to share a little bit about themselves.

From FF/PM Waters: “My name is Zach Waters. I started my career in Fire and EMS in 2016 for the Joyce Fire Department and Olympic Ambulance. I’ve lived on the West Coast, mostly King County, for most of my life and grew up fishing on the Peninsula. I studied Political Science at University of Washington. I like to spend my time with my loving fiancé, Michelle, going on walks with our dogs (Yogi and Smokey), cooking, and spending time at the gym or running on the trails.”

From FF/EMT Martin: “My name is Taylor Martin. I started as a volunteer at PAFD in 2024 and continued until I got a career spot. I was born and raised here in PA. My pastimes are climbing, snowboarding, and going to concerts.”

We’re stoked to have these two join us — if you see them feel free to say hello! 🔥

07/23/2026

One of our brothers from a nearby union, Lacey Fire Firefighter Jake Johnson, is currently in the hospital with extensive injuries after a life-threatening incident.

Please keep Firefighter Johnson, his family and friends, and his Lacey Fire brothers and sisters in your thoughts and prayers as they work through this incredibly difficult time.

Please consider supporting Firefighter Johnson and his family by donating through the Lacey Firefighters Charity Venmo (featured in the link below).

Following a life-threatening accident, one of our own, Firefighter Jake Johnson of L2903 Lacey Professional Firefighters remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center with extensive injuries. Jake’s family, friends, his Lacey Fire brothers and sisters, and the broader fire service community ar...

06/12/2026

Congratulations, Nic!!

We’re so glad to have you on our team, strong work! 🎉🔥

06/04/2026

🚨Pancake Breakfast is THIS SATURDAY!🚨

Come join your local firefighters in supporting the PAFD Auxiliary and their scholarship!

June 6th from 8AM until 11:30AM at Station 11 (102 E 5th St, PA).

Swing by and grab something to eat, bid on a raffle item, take a peek at our trucks, and say hi to our firefighters and their families! 🥞🚒

05/22/2026

What have your Local 656 firefighters been up to this week?

This week each shift participated in their mandatory training block -- a training day where a few FFs from another shift and our Community Paramedics cover as many calls as possible to allow an entire shift to participate in longer, specialized, or more complex drills for the day.

This quarter's training block, developed by our shift officers, focused on aerial apparatus operations, commercial structure fires, and rescue of a victim using both the aerial ladder and ground ladders.

We're lucky to have these dedicated training days a few times a year, giving us the opportunity to test our bread & butter skills and to build on more specialized skills, such as shore-based water rescue and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (our previous two training blocks).

Training like this helps keep us ready to meet our community's needs! 🔥

05/19/2026

Congratulations to our two recent probation graduates - FF/EMTs Jake Hudson and Jesse Judd!

We’re so proud of all of your hard work — next up, paramedic school!

Strong work! 🔥🔥🔥