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Sunnyside considers using Munson property for multi‑phase fire training facility; chiefs say it would help insurance ratings
Summary
The fire chief proposed using a roughly five‑acre portion of the Munson property for a training site and possible future station; Chief Holberg said the site could enable full WSRB training credit, reduce travel/overtime, and position the city to pursue grants once the site is secured.
Sunnyside City staff and the fire chief presented a preliminary plan Dec. 1 to explore placing a fire‑training site on city‑owned Munson property and possibly reserving land for a future fire station.
Chief Holberg described the proposal as very preliminary and phased: basic drill space could be used early on, while more complex props — a three‑story training tower, roof‑operation modules and other burn props — could be added later as funding permits. He said Yakima County Fire District 5 has set aside funds for training structures (the chief cited prop costs in the range of $400,000–$600,000 depending on configuration) but lacks a site to host them.
Holberg told council that a local training facility would likely restore Sunnyside’s full Washington Survey & Rating Bureau (WSRB) credit for training (the department currently receives about 10% credit) and that the change could lower property‑insurance premiums for Sunnyside residents. "Moving forward with this project would give us our 100% full WSRB rating," the chief said while outlining the benefits.
Councilors asked practical questions about site location (the west/far end of the property near the feedlot/heifer operation was suggested to avoid dust on buildings), utility access (water is limited; sewer exists across the highway but water lines do not extend fully), probable square footage for training props (roughly 2,000–2,500 square feet of structure for props, maximum three levels) and whether the district's funding would cover construction. The chief and staff said prop purchases could range from about $400,000 to $600,000 and that initial infrastructure (residential‑type well, gravel surfacing) could cost tens of thousands of dollars; staff noted grants are more likely once the site is secured and shovel‑ready.
Council expressed general support for staff doing more homework and returning with detailed costs, timelines and grant opportunities; staff said that securing or dedicating the land for training would be an early step required to compete for many grants.
