South County Fire’s Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution Wednesday, August 5, in support of the Fire and EMS Construction Bond appearing on the November ballot.
“Improving fire stations is essential to maintaining the level of emergency service our community relies on,” said Jim Kenny, chair of the South County Fire Board of Commissioners. “When disasters strike, people count on us to respond. This bond will help ensure our fire stations are ready to support the community’s needs for decades to come.”
An independent engineering assessment found that nearly half of South County Fire’s 15 fire stations could be inoperable after a major earthquake. Several stations also lack modern safety features that limit firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens, like diesel exhaust, and fail to meet current operational needs.
If approved by voters in November, the bond would:
- Replace six aging fire stations that no longer meet modern safety and operational standards.
- Renovate and seismically upgrade four existing fire stations.
- Construct four new fire stations to meet growing service demands and maintain response times.
- Upgrade other essential facilities that directly support emergency response and readiness.
South County Fire’s emergency call volume has increased about 30% over the last decade as Snohomish County has seen rapid population growth and the introduction of light rail transit service.
Planned fire station construction projects are located throughout the regional fire authority (RFA) in Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated Snohomish County. Upgrades would also support emergency services delivery in surrounding areas.
The bond is estimated to cost about $11.32 per month for a home valued at $700,000, considered average for South County Fire’s service area — a rate of approximately $0.194 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Residents can see a full list of planned improvements, fire station assessments, and use a calculator to estimate property costs at www.southsnofire.org/bond.
Source: South County Fire
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
