Clark County Fire District 10 Chief Gordon Brooks says the district's headquarters have reached the limits of what a building designed more than 60 years ago can provide, prompting a request for voters to approve funding for a replacement fire station in the Aug. 4 primary election.
The fire district is asking voters to approve a bond measure to finance construction of a new headquarters at Station 101 in Amboy, which is estimated to cost $15.2 million. If approved, the measure would authorize a levy of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value over 20 years to repay the bonds. For a home assessed at $650,000, the fire district stated in an email the cost would be about $292 annually.
"It's just a matter of making choices about what's important to you," Brooks said. "I truly feel that the emergency services are probably one of those things that people feel is important."
Brooks said the proposal is driven by operational needs rather than amenities. The current headquarters, originally built in 1961 and occupied in 1963, was designed for a volunteer department responding to a fraction of today's emergency calls. As apparatus have grown larger and staffing has expanded, the building has become increasingly small in size while also falling short of modern building standards.
"You can see by the front of the engine and the back, it's a little tight in here," Brooks said. "It worked great for 1961."
The district's original fire engines were several feet shorter than today's apparatus, leaving little room to maneuver inside the station. Equipment storage has also become a challenge as additional vehicles have been added to meet community needs.
Beyond space limitations, Brooks said the station suffered damage during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. While the structure remains standing, engineers determined repairing it would not be practical, and it does not meet modern seismic requirements for essential public facilities, Brooks added.
Population growth across northeastern Clark County has also dramatically increased emergency demand.
"You know, it's been significant," Brooks said. "I started in 1988 and we ran 150 calls a year."
Brooks added that calls now are more than 10 times that amount as development has spread through the district.
The district currently staffs two firefighters at headquarters each day but anticipates eventually expanding to three-person engine crews and adding a battalion chief as the area continues to grow. Brooks said two-person crews can create operational challenges during emergencies requiring immediate rescues.
The proposed station would also create room for North Country EMS to temporarily base a third ambulance as its own call volume increases. The space allocated would help improve emergency medical coverage without requiring the ambulance provider to immediately construct its own facility.
Plans for the replacement station include space for up to eight emergency vehicles, enclosed offices, dedicated medical examination and conference rooms, expanded firefighter living quarters, turnout gear storage, improved decontamination areas and a community meeting room capable of accommodating about 75 people with ADA compliance.
Brooks said the current station lacks many of those basic functions. Firefighters have converted portions of the living room into bedrooms, training space routinely fills beyond capacity and the building has no suitable exam room for patients who walk into the station seeking medical care.
"We don't have an exam room," Brooks said, standing in a room between the garage and the living quarters. "So if somebody comes in here that's sick and vomiting, we just throw them in this room."
The new headquarters would also address firefighter health by separating living quarters from apparatus bays. Brooks said diesel exhaust can still migrate into occupied areas of the existing station, while the unheated truck bay creates issues for medications, batteries and equipment.
Brooks said the district has worked to stretch taxpayer dollars before asking voters for additional funding. Brooks noted Fire District 10 purchases surplus fire engines from the City of Vancouver rather than buying new apparatus, paying about $14,500 for trucks that would otherwise cost roughly $1 million to replace.
"We do everything we can to pinch pennies as much as we can everywhere," Brooks said.
Brooks acknowledged the request comes at a time when many households are facing financial pressure, but he said district leaders believe replacing the headquarters has become necessary to maintain service levels for a growing community.
"We really hate to add to people's burdens," Brooks said. "But we know that we need to be able to continue to provide our service. And, you know, this building is no longer sufficient to do what our community needs."
District officials are encouraging residents with questions about the proposal to contact the department before ballots are cast.
"We would love to talk with them," Brooks said. "If they have any questions or concerns, please reach out."
Clark County Fire District 10 can be contacted by calling 360-247-5233 or by filling out the email form at clark10.org/contacts.
