BACKGROUND - New Snoqualmie Pass Fire Station 291

At Snoqualmie Pass, we are in significant need of a new fire station despite very limited local resources. Our current fire station was originally built in the 1930’s as a maintenance shed for the Department of Transportation. The station has numerous safety, utility, structural and operational deficiencies that cannot be resolved in the existing structure. One problem of note is that, due to the slope of the roof, it sheds snow in front of the apparatus bays. This is especially significant when we are dispatched for an emergency. The fire station siren sounds when we get a call, which can trigger the release of the snow off of the roof, leaving up to a four foot ridge of snow and ice in front of our rigs preventing a response until the path is cleared.

Since the mid 1990’s, Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue has been actively seeking locations to build a new fire station – to the extent that a volunteer fire department can spend time on such an enormous task.

On a few occasions, there have been instances of property owners coming forward leading us to believe that we might be able to get land donated to build a fire station.

In early 2000, a group of citizens including David and Susan Black, realtor Pat Oh and Nancy Keith from the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, began to explore the idea of re-locating the Fire Station, combined with a community room/visitor center, on land owned by Mark Zenger. At a meeting that included representatives of WSDOT, the US Forest Service and various SNOPAC members and interest groups, Mark Zenger offered to donate a forested parcel he owned just east of the old fire station if it would include a visitor center and community rooms that would serve those existing needs at the Summit. Plans for the fire station at this location were drafted, but this option was eventually dropped because funding that could accommodate all those uses did not seem available. It should be noted that Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue was never invited to participate in this particular effort.

A few years later, once again, Mark Zenger, in a SNOPAC meeting, made a suggestion that he might be able to donate some land to the Fire Department for the purpose of building a fire station. Fire Commissioner Bill Powers and then Fire Commissioner Rob Gibson met with Mark Zenger. During this meeting it became very clear very quickly that the land was not going to be donated, rather, the interest was more in selling the land. Today that piece of property is being offered for sale at the price of $2.25 million. It should be noted that this parcel has numerous drawbacks and the Fire Department has determined that these parcels are not good option for a fire station as it does not meet operational needs.

Another location considered was over on Yellowstone Trail Road. This location involved a larger parcel of land that was going on the market. This location was not further pursued due to lack of money and it does not meet fire department operational needs.

Other options that have been considered have also included two vacant parcels currently owned by Mark Zenger along Hwy 906. One parcel is directly across from Traveler’s Rest and the other is to the left of the current Forest Service Visitor’s Center. The first property is currently being offered for sale at a price of $2.0 million and the second property is currently being offered for sale at a price of $1.225 million. These parcels are not desirable due to potential safety issues associated with the enormous congestion that exists along that stretch of Hwy 906 during the winter ski season. The fire department has determined that these parcels are not good options for a fire station and would not meet our operational needs.

An additional site has been proposed by Charlie Raines that encompasses DOT right of way located between the Red Mountain Café and Exit 53. DOT currently uses the area for operations, including snow storage and is reluctant to sell or trade the property for any other use at this time. Additionally, the Fire Department has determined that this parcel of land is not large enough to adequately build a headquarters fire station.

The new fire station project was put on hold for awhile until last year when the Forest Service contacted us to see if we would be interested in purchasing the property that we currently lease. We were very surprised because we did not think that the Forest Service land under our current fire station was available. Yes, we were interested, but no, we did not have the money to purchase the land.

Through a series of discussions with the Forest Service, we also learned that there is a different parcel of land that they would be willing to consider. This other parcel would allow us to build a new station with less impact to current operations and the new location, due to its location and accessibility, would definitely serve us better. In fact, the Fire Department has determined that this other parcel of land is the best piece of property in Snoqualmie Pass to build a new headquarters fire station. This location has the best response time when compared to any other locations that have been considered. Additionally, it is in a less congested area along Hwy 906 when compared to the other Hwy 906 locations.

HR1285 was introduced earlier this year that will convey approximately 3 acres of Forest Service Land to the Fire Department. The Fire Department, recognizing it might not need the entire 3 acres that was proposed to be conveyed contacted such groups as the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Mountaineers, the Sierra Club, and Kittitas County Parks District #1. Our goal was and is to try to accommodate needs, wants, and desires that such groups might have in particular for any excess land that might not be needed by the Fire Department.

Concerns have been raised about the Snoqualmie Pass Land Conveyance Act, because the land would be given to the Snoqualmie Pass Fire Department free of charge. However, land has already been routinely given to public agencies as recently as August 2, 2005 when Public Law 109-46, the Nevada Land Conveyance, was passed for the purpose of a historical cemetery. Additionally, through casual conversations with the Senate Energy Resource Committee it has been learned that these types of conveyances are done all the time, as long as it’s relatively small acreage as well as being used for a public purpose and not leading to private profit.

Additionally, the Forest Service suggested four different options, through an email from Maryanne Kurtinaitis dated May 1, 2007.

The first option, which was similar to an idea also brought forward by Congressman Reichert’s and Inslee’s offices, was to check with the ski area to see if they would be willing to donate some land and/or work a three way swap. The ski area, while intrigued with the idea, is more focused on completing its much delayed Master Development Plan. The ski area received recent agreement by local conservation groups and have indicated that they would not be willing to go down a path that would further delay the Master Development Plan.

The second option, the Townsite Act, while an excellent program, does not address the need for funding the purchase of Forest Service Lands, rather, it allows government agencies, such as our Fire Department, to request the purchase of lands since we would not have the power of eminent domain.

The third option was a loan program that is not available for the purchase of land. The fourth option confirmed what we have already come to know, there is no alternative funding sources available for purchase of land.

In Mid-May (2007), Commissioner Caviezel and Chief Cowan attended a Fire Design workshop. Throughout this conference, both of us kept asking the question if anyone was aware of funding sources for purchasing land (for a fire station). Repeatedly we were told “no” and “good luck”.

Funding for the entire project is not expected to come from any one source. The Snoqualmie Pass Land Conveyance Act would overcome the first hurdle that has seemed to plague this department for over ten years. Funding sources for building the actual fire station are being pursued through the Washington State Fire Fighter’s Association, Washington State Fire Chiefs Association, the Washington State Legislature, the Governor’s Office, Federal Sources, and Homeland Security Grants. None of these processes have been found to allow funding for the purpose of purchasing property.

Another concern that has been brought forward is in regards to the Snoqualmie Pass Adaptive Management Area Plan. It should be noted from the Record of the Decision that “if a new development is determined through an environmental analysis to provide significant public benefits, then it may occur without meeting the criteria of being neutral or beneficial to late successional habitat”. As local residents and volunteer fire fighters, we believe strongly in good environmental stewardship of this land and we will certainly address issues during the NEPA process.

HR 1285 passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee after an amendment offered by Mr, Grijalva that would reduce the amount of land to be conveyed from 3 acres to 1-1/2 acres. On July 23, 2007, HR 1285 passed out of the House of Representatives It should be recognized that many Fire Stations require 2 acres or more of land. The desired way to build a Fire Station is generally one story, which takes up more acreage; as opposed to a two story building, which would require an elevator to meet ADA compliance. However, in our case, a smaller footprint has been determined to be acceptable because a two story building allows a smaller area needed for the roof. At Snoqualmie Pass, a roof is much more costly because of our increased structural load requirements due to the 30 plus feet of snow that we receive each year.

On July 23, 2007 HR 1285 was passed by the House of Representatives.

While the smaller footprint will still allow the Fire Department to build an operationally efficient fire station, it does, however, inhibit our ability to work with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Mountaineers, Sierra Club and others for any easements that we might have been able to grant to accommodate their needs.

Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue is committed to the environment and throughout the design process, LEEDS processes will be utilized. Additionally, it will be our continued goal to work with such groups as the Mountaineers, Mountains to Sound, Pacific Crest Trails, the Sierra Club, and any other organization that may have an interest in our project.