Community Government Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One plans bond measure, seeks comment

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One commissioners are considering placing a facilities bond measure on the Aug. 2, 2022, ballot and will seek comment on the plan at two upcoming meetings.

If fire commissioners go forward with the bond measure and voters approve it, the funds would be used primarily to build a training facility and to renovate or replace fire stations.

The 20-year bond is projected to cost $9.90 per month for the owner of a $500,000 home, according to a news release issued by the local fire district on Wednesday, March 16.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed bond during meetings at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 22; and 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 12. Meetings are held virtually, via Zoom. To view the meeting, find the link on the GHFMO website.

Comment may also be offered via email to Fire Chief Dennis Doan at [email protected].

The new fire training facility would be built on land the fire district owns adjacent to Station 50 on Bujacich Road. The district currently does not have a live-fire training facility, and firefighters must leave the area to conduct live-fire trainings.

Bond funds also would be used to replace Station 51, the district’s busiest station, at the same location to accommodate additional personnel and modern apparatus.

Improvements are planned at Stations 53 on Fox Island, 57 on Crescent Valley Drive, 58 on Swede Hill and 59 in Artondale. Some stations do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements or current seismic standards. They also lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels.

Some stations also lack decontamination areas to remove soot, hydrocarbons and smoke from firefighting gear. There is also a need for space to decontaminate medical equipment used at EMS calls.

Firefighters from multiple stations responded to the house fire. Photo courtesy of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One