Attempting to physically interfere with a firefighter or intentionally hindering a first responder by disobeying a direct order in Lewis County can now result in up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Lewis County commissioners unanimously adopted ordinance 1349 on Tuesday. It was suggested by Winlock-area Lewis County Fire District 15 Commissioner Randy Pennington, who learned in August that interfering with a firefighter or emergency responder was no longer directly against state law.

“I think it’s something we should do,” Pennington told the Lewis County Fire Commissioners Association in August, according to previous reporting by The Chronicle. “That’s my personal opinion and it might not be yours, but I hate to see one of my firefighters interfered with and then trying to solve the solution and then end up getting in trouble himself.”

In September, Pennington took his plea directly to the commissioners, saying that while it’s illegal to interfere with a firefighter directing traffic and a felony to assault a firefighter, an additional rule was needed to prevent people from hindering medical and firefighting responses.

The new ordinance officially took effect Wednesday. 

Specifically, it outlaws:

• Attempts to interfere or physically interfere with a firefighter or emergency responder
• The failure to move from a location to another location as ordered by a firefighter or emergency responder
• Hindering or delaying a firefighter or emergency responder by disobeying an order to stop given by such officer
• Refusing or failing to cease an activity or behavior that creates a risk of injury to any person when ordered to do so by a firefighter or emergency responder
• Refusing or failing to leave the scene of an emergency response while it is in progress after being requested to leave by a firefighter or emergency responder

Pennington was inspired to bring the proposal to the commissioners’ attention after Seattle passed a similar ordinance in May.