Opinion ID: 2634522
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Most of the findings of fact rendered at the administrative hearing before the Board for Volunteer Fire Fighters (Board) were unchallenged in respondents' appeal to the superior court, which found the remaining findings of fact supported by substantial evidence. Neither party sought further review of that decision, so we now accept all findings as verities. Campbell v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 150 Wash.2d 881, 886, 83 P.3d 999 (2004). Ms. Schrom has been the secretary and chief financial officer to the Board of Commissioners of the Grant County Fire District No. 11 (Grant District No. 11) since 1961. Similarly Ms. Bloomfield has held identical positions with the Whitman County Fire District No. 12 (Whitman District No. 12) since 1973. The Board found respondents provided clerical assistance only to their respective fire departments, a description challenged by respondents but upheld by the superior court. Regardless of the precise nomenclature used to describe respondents' duties, it is undisputed neither respondent engaged in what the Board dubbed fire fighter duties, i.e., participating in fire fighter drills, responding to fire alarms, driving fire trucks, or training to fight fires. Clerk's Papers (CP) at 136 (Findings of Fact 2, 7). Yet despite the clerical nature of their duties, both Ms. Schrom and Ms. Bloomfield have been reported to the Board as volunteer fire fighters for pension purposes since 1988 and 1980, respectively. As such both respondents and their respective fire districts have paid the necessary annual pension coverage fees through 2000. [2] The events giving rise to the dispute at hand initiated in 2000. Ms. Schrom had requested service credit for her years prior to 1988, which prompted the Board to request documentary evidence to support her assertions. Meanwhile the Board contacted Ms. Bloomfield to request similar documentation because doubts arose as to whether she had been correctly reported as a Whitman County fire fighter. When both separately responded by indicating the purely clerical nature of their duties, the Board deemed them ineligible for pension benefits, giving them the option of reimbursement for coverage fees paid or an administrative hearing to determine whether they were correctly reported as volunteer fire fighters. Respondents opted for the administrative hearing and petitioned the Board for pension membership. At the telephonic hearing the Board heard testimony from both respondents and their respective fire chiefs. The Board also accepted as evidence various documents describing respondents' duties. After reviewing the evidence the Board concluded: [T]hese statutes require an individual seeking participation in the pension provisions of RCW 41.24 to establish that he or she was an active fire fighter in the volunteer fire department and was engaged in fire fighting activities such as working in and about company quarters or other places under the direction of the chief or other officer, responding to alarms, working at alarms, returning from alarms, drill, or emergency work. CP at 137 (Conclusion of Law (COL) 5). Because respondents' duties were financial and/or clerical, the Board found the two were ineligible as a matter of law for pension benefits. Respondents appealed to the Whitman County Superior Court, which reversed and ruled both respondents were eligible for pension benefits under the Act. After unsuccessfully seeking reconsideration in the superior court the Board appealed to Division Three, which affirmed the superior court. Schrom v. Bd. for Volunteer Fire Fighters, 117 Wash.App. 542, 72 P.3d 239 (2003). We granted review. 151 Wash.2d 1001, 87 P.3d 1185 (2004).