Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tenino fire chief outlines station search, volunteer recruitment and insurance-rating strategy
Summary
The city’s fire chief told council the department ran 23 calls in the last 30 days, is negotiating to buy property for a new station and is pursuing partnerships and dormitory space to boost volunteer response and lower homeowners’ insurance ratings.
Tenino’s fire chief updated the city council on May 13, saying the department ran 23 calls in the last 30 days and is negotiating a letter-of-interest on property for a potential new station. “We’ve submitted a letter of interest, on some property, and their attorneys are looking it over,” the chief said, adding the city is waiting for revised contract language from the seller’s counsel.
The chief described partnerships with neighboring departments — East Olympia and South Thurston — that include recruiting and sharing personnel. He said East Olympia is advertising for a deputy chief of operations and Tenino expects some portion of that position’s workload and wage could be shared across agencies. The chief emphasized a near-term recruitment push tied to upcoming volunteer academies and EMT classes and estimated “out of 20 people…should get over 10 that will make it all the way through.”
Officials framed the station plans partly as an insurance-rating strategy. The chief told council that remodeling nearby stations to add bedrooms would allow volunteers to live on-site and that consolidating response could improve the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) classification, which affects homeowners’ insurance. “We’re going to say that Station 42 is no longer a fire station… and Bakota… will actually be the fire station that responds that whole South End,” he said, explaining that shifting where volunteers stage can lower ratings for the broader area.
Council sought clarification about whether the property under negotiation was inside city limits; the chief said it is “on the edge” and that any transition away from the old station would likely take years given permitting timelines. Officials emphasized the plan is contingent on legal review, grant awards (capital budget grant mentioned) and successful recruitment.
The council did not take formal action on the property at the meeting; staff said they hope to have more definitive information from attorneys and the board of commissioners before proceeding.
