Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue proposes $15 million bond for new station, other improvements

PLAIN — Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue (LWFR) is asking voters to approve up to $15 million in capital improvement bonds to build a new central station and make improvements to existing facilities. The bond would be paid back over 20 years, costing approximately $25 a month for a $500,000 home.

The proceeds would primarily support the construction of a new station on the district’s Hill Street property, located behind Beaver Valley Elementary and the existing Station 93. 

“We're out of space…Everything from storage to being able to store vehicles, to dealing with training, and dealing with administrative space…By having a centralized station, you provide a lot of that right there, and in doing so, you take pressure off of all these other stations that are trying to hold everything,” said Fire Chief David Walker.

The district, which serves over 100 square miles of the Lake Wenatchee and Plain area, currently has five stations and 60 volunteers. The stations are located near Lake Wenatchee, the Chiwawa River Pines Community, Beaver Valley School, the Ponderosa Community, and the US-2 rest area.

“We are just simply bigger than the facilities that were built 30-40 years ago….[Station 91] is probably one of our most complete stations, the other ones are literally garages,” said Walker, adding that the buildings do not meet adequate compliance standards.

Because of property limitations at each of the stations, Walker reasoned that a new station behind Station 93 was the best option for expansion. According to design plans, the 13,300 square-foot building will include four engine bays, office space, living quarters, a training room, gear storage, and a physical fitness space.

In addition to providing space for training, admin and equipment, living quarters at the new station would allow the station to have 24-hour staffing, which would shorten response time and improve insurance ratings, according to LWFR.

Last year, the district responded to 354 calls for emergency service, nearly 70 percent of which were medical related. According to the annual report, the first apparatus arriving on scene averaged 11 minutes and 18 seconds from the time of dispatch. Turnout time, or the elapsed time from dispatch to departing a station, averaged six minutes and 20 seconds for all apparatus on a call.

“It's not all about fire. It's about medical response too. And they do a lot of medical up here, so the quicker they can get to people that are having trouble, the better off we'll all be. That's how we sum that up. That's why the bond is important,” said resident Bob Adamson.

Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB), which provides data for insurance companies to evaluate risk, evaluates fire districts with a rating of one to 10; one indicates exemplary firefighting capabilities, and 10 indicates insufficiency for insurance rating credit. In its most recent WRSB rating on June 1, the district received a six.

The district received a three in the categories of water supply and emergency communications, but a seven in fire department and fire safety control. Under the fire department category, the district scored most poorly on staffing levels, training, and fire stations.

According to the evaluation, three on-call/volunteer firefighters is the equivalent credit to one on-duty firefighter. However, one on-call/volunteer firefighter may be considered the equivalent if they work defined shifts at stations, potentially improving LWFR’s evaluation. According to Walker, sleeping quarters would allow the district to achieve defined day and night shifts for volunteers, as well as open the door for a residency program. 

The main station is projected to cost approximately $8.96 million, which includes a 15 percent contingency estimate. The district could deduct an estimated $1.3 million if they choose to build only the shell of the near 4,000 square-foot administrative area.

LWFR is also planning to build an 6,200 square-foot Emergency Operations Center/Training Center adjacent to the main station, which is estimated to cost $4.7 million (which includes a 15 percent contingency), according to the architect.

A list of improvements have also been identified at the satellite stations with available bond money: sprinklers and storage at Station 91, offices, septic, drive, apron and exhaust at Station 92, a new driveway at the existing Station 93, septic, sprinkler and an interior reorganization at Station 94, and garage doors, septic, house finish, paint, and an engine bay at Station 95. According to broad estimates provided by the fire district, the total of these projects are projected to cost approximately $1.5 million.

"It's just something that's almost, in my mind, not a question, because it's just something that we need to step up to for the next 10 years. Otherwise we're not going to have the right capabilities around us,” said resident Dennis Broughton.

While LWFR and supporters say that information has been readily available, others have questioned the fire district’s communication and timing of the bond. 

“We are 100 percent behind a strong fire department, what we're not behind is a lack of transparency, a lack of information, insufficient information for voters to be able to make informed decisions or not behind a big, huge facility that's completely outsized for this community,” said resident David Stoller.

Resident Michelle Hallen said when she had asked about getting more information or providing public input, she was told she could attend the commissioner meetings, and that agendas were listed 24 hours in advance. 

“I emailed back saying, ‘Oh, thanks for giving me that information. Like, this is what I found. That, you know, it's not listed on the agenda. So again, how would you know to go to make comments?’” said Hallen.

The fire district first mentioned a "potential bond proposition" on their January agenda, but the item was missing from subsequent agendas until returning as simply "bond" on the April 23 special meeting agenda. During that special meeting, the board voted on the ballot resolution and formed the required pro and con committee.

Alternatively, "Station 93" discussion appeared on February and April 17 agendas, but was omitted in March. 

Additionally, screenshots reviewed by Ward Media showed that the April 17 agenda and minutes from March, April 17, and April 23 meetings were missing from the district's website until June 30. These meeting minutes provided no additional details until April 17, when they referenced the bond and the need for an April 23 resolution.

State law requires districts to form both pro and con committees for ballot measures, but the district could only find volunteers for the pro side. 

"They knew that a lot of at least the neighbors here who were aware of these things going on, that we were not in favor of it. And yet, they didn't contact anybody," said Stoller.

Walker said that the pro and con committee had been advertised on the website and social media. The Chelan County Auditor's Office also issued a May 13 press release seeking "against" committee statements by May 16.

“They're late to the game as usual, but it's interesting, because they were at meetings when we went through station design several years ago,” said Walker.

The website advertisement was still online by the first week of July, despite the expired deadline. Ward Media is in the process of verifying when and where the district advertised the committee.

Both Broughton and Adamson, who were considered for the pro committee, said that they found out about it through their connection with Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue Auxiliary. 

“It's like any other bond or levy you run, things start ramping up, you know, a month or two ahead of time, and people just need to be informed. And I think fire department's doing that, but people out there in the community have to pay attention,” said Adamson.

The site and floor plans for the new station, as well as details for an upcoming bond presentation, were published online shortly after a discussion with Ward Media on July 8.

A week prior to election day, LWFR will host a 2025 Capital Bond Fact Presentation on July 28 for the public to view plans, understand impacts, and learn about services. The presentation will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station 91, located at 21696 Lake Wenatchee Highway.

Applications for new voter registrations or updates by mail, phone or online are due by July 28. Updates and registration can be completed in-person from July 29 until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 5. The proposition will need a supermajority, or 60 percent approval, to pass.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media