A specially-trained, acclerant-sniffing dog named “Reicher” will be honored on Thursday, April 15th at 2pm at Burien’s Fire District #2 station at 15100 8th Ave SW.

Reicher was trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, ATF, to detect accelerants at fire scenes. He has worked numerous fire and arson scenes in his very successful career as an accelerant canine, and sadly, he was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Reicher has enjoyed his well deserved retirement from fire calls the last two years, but still has the important job as the fire station greeter.

So drop by and give this pooch a pet and enjoy the company of your local firefighters.

According to a press release:

We would like to thank Bill Harm and Reicher in recognizing their team efforts with all Fire and Law Enforcement agencies of the region they have worked and solved cases with.

Join Us in Reicher’s Celebration

Reicher, Accelerant Canine
Reicher is specially trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, ATF, to detect accelerants at fire scenes. He has worked numerous fire and arson scenes in his very successful career as an accelerant canine.

Reicher has enjoyed his well deserved retirement from fire calls the last two years, but still has the important job as the fire station greeter. We are very saddened that Reicher has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

We would like to thank Bill Harm and Reicher in recognizing their team efforts with all Fire and Law Enforcement agencies of the region they have worked and solved cases with.

Please join us to thank Bill and Richer for all their team work they have provided & contributed to our communities and region.

WHAT: Retirement party for Reicher

WHEN: April 15, 2010 at 2pm

WHERE: King County Fire District # 2, 15100 8th Avenue SW, Burien, WA 98166

INFO: Refreshments will be served

According to both KIRO-TV and Northwest Cable News, dozens of job-seekers camped overnight Tuesday night outside the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department building on 8th Ave SW in hopes of being one of 250 applicants for a full-time job.

According to BFD’s website:

Applications are now available for download from the Burien Fire web site. Applications will be accepted at Headquarters Station beginning August 19, 2009 at 9:00 AM PST until 3:00 PM PST, Monday through Friday until the first 250 have been received or September 3, 2009 at 3:00 PM PST whichever comes first.

A full list of requirements, minimum qualifications, application procedures, and an information sheet on the written test, physical test, and oral boards is provided to you via the link below. Please read this document in its entirety. You must have Adobe Acrobat to view the document.

2009 Application Information Sheet

2009 Application for Employment

The link below is the 2009 application for employment. It is a PDF document and Adobe Acrobat will be needed to view the file. Please read the Application Information Sheet prior to turning the application in.

2009 Job Application

Questions about the application and employment process, exams, test dates, or other related information should be directed to the receptionist at (206) 242-2040 during normal business hours only.

BFD started accepting job applications at 9am Wednesday morning, and will continue to accept them Mon.-Fri. from 9am to 3pm until 250 have been received or until Sept. 3rd, whichever comes first.

Potential firefighters will have to pass a written test, physical test and an oral board to get hired.

For more information, visit the department’s website or call (206) 242-2040.

Kid’s Day at the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Dept. goes until 3pm with all sorts of interactive fun, educational games & food.

Young Jasmine helps wash cars at a fundraiser for the kids of Brian Storer at
B & E Meats parking lot at the intersection of Ambaum Blvd. & SW 150th until 4pm today.

Come drop by the B-Town Blog booth, located right in front of Jay Lauris Jewelry at 920 SW 152nd.  Robert Simpson-Clark is the Owner/Designer who’s been in Olde Burien for 35 years. JoAnn Davey is a Designer, and above is a photo of her cute-as-heck Shitzu “Babee,” who will be greeting people at their wine tasting session, which goes on all day and costs just $2. On display today as part of Artwalk are photos by Robert, so come on up, check out the art, say hi to us B-Town Bloggers as well as Babee while having a sip!

Artwalk/Arts A-Glow on SW 152nd all day, with three artists living in the
windows of Karuna Yoga until around 11pm tonight.

And of course, B-Town BlogstockAPalooza rocks Olde Burien tonight starting at 6pm, with two areas of extended outdoor seating at The Mark Restaurant and The Tin Room!

Packer, 49, worked for the local fire department from 1981 through 1994, when he left to work for Bonney Lake as Battalion Chief; he was soon promoted to Fire Chief for East Pierce County.

Packer’s quick rise through the ranks of B/N.P.F.D resulted in being promoted to Lieutenant, then being named “Firefighter of the Year” in 1992.

Many of his old co-workers and friends in the area are very saddened at the loss, and we here at the B-Town Blog wanted to make sure that everyone knew of his local ties, as well as the upcoming memorial service.

According to Doug Luedeman of the B.F.D., Packer was instrumental in the development of the “Children’s Fire Safety House” trailer which was ironically displayed at the Burien Strawberry Festival June 28th, where a young 8-year old boy named Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez visited it the day before he was tragically killed in the June 29th arson apartment fire.

Packer leaves behind a wife, four daughters and two grandchildren.

Memorial for Fire Chief Dan Packer

• When: 2 pm Thurs. Aug. 7
• Where: Christian Faith Center, 33645 20th Ave. S., Federal Way. The public is invited to the service.
• Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made at any Washington Mutual location to the Fire Chief Dan Packer Memorial Fund. Checks can also be mailed to:

East Pierce Professional Firefighters
PO Box 7500
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

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