Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 2021 NO. 3 >
  1. A fire protection district may not refuse to provide fire and emergency services to persons or property within the reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
  2. The fees charged by a fire protection district for providing services relating to untaxed property within the reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe may be negotiated between the tribe and the fire protection district.
  3. Fire protection districts lack the authority to unilaterally impose fees upon tribes, but incentives exist for both sides to reach agreement.
  4. Where property within reservation boundaries is divided between or among more than one fire protection district, fire and emergency services may be provided by a single fire protection district by mutual agreement.