Orting Valley Fire and Rescue Discusses Future Headquarters Station

Orting Valley Fire and Rescue has explored the possibility of purchasing the Public Safety Building from the City of Orting. The facility currently houses the Orting Police Department, Orting Municipal Court, and the fire district’s headquarters station (by lease). Apparatus at this station include: 2 medic units, 2 engines, 1 water tender, 2 swift water boats and 1 wildland engine.

The fire department is out of room and needs to expand. Limitations include: only 1 office space, not enough dormitory rooms for the firefighters, small kitchen facilities, lack of storage room for sensitive files, no treatment room for walk in patients, small training room (shared with Police, Court and City) Limited bay space, among many others.

Orting Valley Fire and Rescue made an offer to the City, based on appraisals each entity had completed. Unfortunately, the two agencies couldn’t come to an agreement on purchase price. The Fire District is moving forward with plans to build a new station in town. The Fire District will use the money currently paid to the city for the lease to make payments on a low interest rate loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The goal is to stay budget neutral, yet allow the district to gain the square footage that is desperately needed,” according to Fire Commission Board Chair Shawn Mahoney. A new station will assure the best response capabilities for the citizens now and into the future and will also have a meeting room that will be available for use by citizens and other agencies. Also, training props will be moved to the new station to allow crews to remain centrally located for emergency responses. Plans are to design the new facility to be as energy efficient as possible to reduce utility costs.

Orting Valley Fire and Rescue will be holding a public hearing on July 15th, 2014 at 6 PM during the regularly scheduled Fire Commissioners meeting. This will be held at the Public Safety Building, 401 Washington Ave. SE, Orting, WA 98360. The Commissioner’s will discuss and take public comment on the new headquarters station project and discuss funding options from the USDA.


Contact:
Fire Chief Zane Gibson
Orting Valley Fire and Rescue
401 Washington Ave. SE
Orting, WA 98360
Phone: (360) 893 - 2221
zgibson@ovfr.org
www.ovfr.org