SEQUIM — Clallam County Fire District 3’s fire chiefs and administrators are planning a move west next month as Station 34 changes some offices into bedrooms.
District 3 Fire Chief Ben Andrews this week signed a lease for office space on Carlsborg Road across from the Carlsborg Post Office to move the district’s three chiefs and three administrative staff from Station 34.
Andrews said when Station 34 is fully staffed on a shift, there are more firefighters (nine) than bedrooms (six).
“At bedtime, we’re sending them to outlying stations,” he said. “We’re losing that capacity as well because we’ve added a third person [for each shift] in Carlsborg [Station 33].”
Tentatively by the end of April, the fire chiefs and administrators will be operating out of the new space, and their old offices will be converted to bedrooms, Andrews said.
He said the shift shouldn’t affect operations as fire chiefs routinely visit other stations already.
“The biggest change will be when people come in for business they’ll have to go to Carlsborg,” Andrews said. “It’s 2022 though, so most business is over the phone or via email.”
Some community groups and first aid classes haven’t met during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with safety regulations being lifted this weekend, Andrews said they plan to reopen meeting space.
Assistant Fire Chief Dan Orr reported in February to fire commissioners that the approximate 1,600 square feet of space was formerly rented to a chiropractor. Some 600 square feet next door is potentially available, too.
Rent would be about $26,000 annually for both spaces and costs include sewer, water and garbage, he reported.
An early estimate notes that renovations to light construction, electrical work, break room additions, new telephone and internet systems, furniture, a generator and an alarm system could cost about $70,000.
Fire chiefs went to four other properties near Station 34 and found the Carlsborg space was significantly cheaper.
Orr said in an interview that construction costs at Station 34 will be minimal with most of it being for new beds and lockers.
Office furniture will be mostly reused, and the district’s maintenance staff will do construction in Carlsborg and Sequim, he said.
Architects talk
Fire commissioners will speak with and possibly choose from two architecture firms on Tuesday, March 15, to begin the first of many steps of planning new fire stations in Carlsborg and Dungeness.
They agreed at their March 1 board meeting to talk with Rice Fergus Miller of Bremerton and TCA Architects of Seattle about their qualifications. Both firms have worked for the fire district before, Andrews said, with Rice Fergus Miller designing the Carlsborg shop and property, and TCA designing Station 34.
He told commissioners the purpose of the meeting isn’t about choosing designs now but considering their abilities and who best meets the district’s needs. Fire officials said the selected firm will help determine funding options and more along with design.
Previously, fire officials indicated they’d like to build a new Carlsborg Station 33 at the district’s shop on Carlsborg Road as their current station is old, and too small for fire trucks and staff.
They’ve also purchased property west of Dungeness’ Station 31 out of the flood plain for a new volunteer station.
Andrews said in an interview that the firm would help them make designs for staffed and unstaffed stations that could be used with some modifications if other stations need to be refurbished or rebuilt elsewhere in the district.
How the stations will be funded is unknown, he said, but the district is applying for grants and investigating various funding avenues.
“We need to know what it’s going to cost before determining the finance needs,” Andrews said.
For more about Clallam County Fire District 3, which covers the east side of Clallam County as well as a small portion in East Jefferson County, call 360-683-4242 or visit ccfd3.org.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
