Frequently Asked Questions

The existing fire station would be demolished and the new building would be built on the same site adjacent to the Police Station. The new fire station will house some police staff and functions, such as a shared break room and fitness facility, allowing some existing spaces in the police station to be converted to office space. This will mitigate the need to make a future addition to the police station.

The City would fund additional design and construction of the new facility with a bond voters will consider in the primary election this August.

The bond amount is $15.725 million. The City is securing this bond with an estimated 4.66% interest rate over a 25-year term. The monthly cost for the owner of a median priced home will be approximately $8.74 (based upon median assessed home value of $583,000).

In the November 7, 2023, General Election Ballot, Washougal voters approved Proposition 11 to renew the expiring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy. An EMS levy is a property tax levy specifically designed and used for the provision of emergency medical services. The Camas-Washougal Fire Department has provided emergency medical services and ambulance transport services for decades. EMS levy funds are restricted to providing EMS services and will be used to continue the provision of these services in our community. The EMS levy supports the operational costs of providing these EMS services.

The EMS levy is a dedicated source of funding used for the provision of emergency medical services in Washougal. It supports EMS operational costs and does not cover replacing or updating the critical facilities that the EMS services are housed in.

Washougal needs a new station to ensure our residents continue to receive adequate fire and emergency medical services as we continue to grow. The current Fire Station 43 facility has outlived its useful life and cannot be modified to accommodate the needs required of a modern fire station. 

More specifically, the current building:

• Frequently floods with stormwater, so firefighters use sandbags year-round to block some of it. Structural damage has occurred from flooding over the years.
• Intermittently has sewage backups.
• Doesn’t have a dedicated space for decontaminating clothing and gear after responding to a fire — which risks firefighters’ health and safety due to carcinogen exposure.
• Lacks an exhaust system for fire engines to maintain healthy air quality.
• Would not withstand a significant earthquake.
• Lacks space for additional firefighters/EMS personnel to meet growing demands.
• Lacks mandated safety clearances around equipment.
• Lacks facilities for a diverse workforce (male/female changing rooms) to be consistent with diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.
• Lacks private medical screening and treatment area for walk-ins and drive-ins.

The building also doesn’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for public access and lacks a public restroom.

The police station houses staff workspaces, office spaces for animal control and bodycam staff, but lacks training classrooms, conference rooms, fitness facilities, and break room. The new fire station would be located adjacent to and adjoining the existing police station to allow for shared use of break rooms, fitness facilities and a training/community room.  

We’ll use what we have as best we can — but eventually:

• We’ll have trouble responding to emergencies, including longer response times.
• We’ll have more trouble recruiting new firefighters to replace those who retire.

The fire station on 39th Street has been converted into the city's permit center. The 39th St. Station cannot accommodate a modern day fire engine the overheads doors are too short and the roofline cannot accept any taller doors. Recent studies also have placed the existing site as the best location because it is centrally located, has good access to the port, downtown,  waterfront and Washougal River Rd. An example would be to get the port and there is a train crossing at 32nd the fire engine would have to go downtown and then reverse back on SR14 to access the port.

No. The new library is not a city project; it is spearheaded by Fort Vancouver Regional Library.