CHIMACUM — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue officials hope a new building to replace the aging Chimacum station will be operational by the first part of 2014.
The fire station at 9193 Rhody Drive was constructed in the early 1950s and upgraded in the 1970s when a metal shell building was built to enclose the original cinder block structure.
Construction bids for the 11,250-square-foot facility were received Tuesday from Hoch Construction of Port Angeles and Primo Construction of Sequim.
The bids were solicited as “bare bones” versions and with all the options included. Hoch bid $1,655.410 as a baseline with $1.9 million for all options, and Primo bid $1,613,571 and $1,831,000.
The district’s ad hoc construction committee will analyze the bids for compliance to specifications, review references and financial strength, and study time frames for completion said Bill Beezley, department spokesman.
The district also reserves the right to cancel the construction if no bids qualify or if costs to construct the station exceed allocated funds for the project, Beezley said.
Beezley said once the bids are accepted, it will take about three months to prepare for construction and up to a year to finish construction.
During that time, the fire crew from that station will operate out of a rented facility at Rhody Drive and Ness’ Corner Road.
A portion of the successful levy increase approved by voters in April 2010 was allotted to making payments on a $4.2 million bond the district issued in December 2010.
Proceeds from that bond have so far been used to purchase two new engines, two Advanced Life Support medic units, purchase the Lawrence Street station from the city of Port Townsend, buy two brush firefighting units and pay off remaining mortgage debt on the Henry Miller Fire Station.
The remaining funds will determine what options can be included in the new Chimacum station.
Additional renovations include the upgrade of the Marrowstone Island facility, which Beezley said “doesn’t even have a bathroom,” and building on an addition to the Critter Lane station that will be used for administration.
The fire department’s administration is now located in a rented strip mall office at 40 Seton Road.
Beezley said the two new engines, which were delivered to the department in September, were bought through a cooperative purchasing agreement with Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 21 at a discounted price of about $360,000 each.
The pumpers have a maximum water-flow capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute and contain an internal 750-gallon tank.
A third engine will join the fleet in mid-2013.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
