The Lake Tapps Incident Locator Program, first launched in 2014 by East Pierce Fire and Rescue, will expand significantly in coming weeks with funding from Cascade Water Alliance.

The Incident Locator Program ensures public safety help gets where it’s needed when time counts by placing identification numbers on lake front properties.

“This is first and foremost a public safety program,” said Chuck Clarke, Cascade Water Alliance CEO. “But the incident locators also help lake operations as well as enable residents reporting concerns and issues, milfoil and more. The program is a win-win for everyone.”

East Pierce Fire and Rescue recognized the need for identifying properties from the lake side in 2014 to help callers involved in or witnessing an incident on Lake Tapps quickly and accurately give 911 dispatchers a correct location for emergency response.

The department completed the numbering of all lake front properties at that time and asked homeowners to purchase the incident locator signs. A recent review indicated the need for the program still exists. Working together, East Pierce Fire and Rescue and Cascade will make sure all key locations around the lake are marked with incident locator signs.

“This program will go a long way toward making Lake Tapps safer this summer and in the future,” said East Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Bud Backer.

Incident locator signs are made of aluminum for low maintenance and with reflective numbers for highest visibility. Each set comes with all necessary mounting hardware and a post where no other mounting is available.

Homeowners are still encouraged to purchase a lake side incident locator sign for posting on their docks, boat houses or other highly-visible location so boaters, swimmers and emergency responders can easily spot the location.

For more information and to sign up to purchase your incident locator sign call 253.863.1800 or visit www.eastpiercefire.org.