Public Records Request

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue is committed to providing the public full access to public records in accordance with the Washington State Public Records Act (PRA), referenced in RCW Chapter 42.56, under guidance from the Washington Office of the Attorney General. The intent of the law is to provide the public with full access to records concerning the conduct of government, mindful of individual privacy rights, and the desirability of the efficient administration of government. Our Public Records Officer is Finance Director Brandi Ballinger.

Medical Records with identifying information are protected by federal law. Click here for more about medical records. 

Requests for public information are filled to the best of our ability within the law.

Public Records Act exemptions are found in RCW 42.56.230-.475. Numerous other exemptions and disclosure prohibitions appear throughout other state and federal statutes.

For a list of exemptions, see Appendix C of MRSC’s PRA publication. The Code Reviser’s Office also annually publishes a list of exemptions from the RCW; this list can be found on the Attorney General’s Sunshine Committee webpage. While we all do our best to keep these lists current, legislative changes and judicial rulings continuously affect disclosure decisions. 

If you believe that your records request should not have been redacted or denied, you can file an appeal in writing within two business days of receiving your records request. Appeals will be evaluated by the Fire Chief and the Board of Commissioners, and their decision will be final.

• Requests are typically processed within 5 business days of receiving them.
• You will be contacted if there is a delay in processing your request.
• Payment for records requests is due upon receipt in the form of exact cash or check.
• Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue does not accept electronic payments and cannot make change.