Legislative Issues

Public Safety

Bothell Firefighters to Benefit from Defense bill

26 May 2005

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee announced today that Snohomish County Fire Protection District #10, which contracts with the City of Bothell Fire and E.M.S. for emergency medical services, will receive much-needed land to construct a new Queensborough Firehouse under a provision that Inslee included in the Defense Authorization Act. The House passed the defense legislation on Wednesday evening. Ownership of the land has been a high priority for Snohomish County Fire Protection District #10, which currently leases part of the land from the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC).  The fire department worked closely with the Army and Congress to complete the land transfer.

Said Inslee, “Bothell firefighters are heroes in our community and provide invaluable emergency services for the Army and Bothell residents.  I’m pleased that Congress could make sure that this land transfer goes through without a hitch so that these hard-working men and women can continue to save lives, enhance national security, and help those in danger.  This is a win-win situation for Bothell and the Army.”

Said Acting Battalion Chief of Bothell Fire and E.M.S., Frank Shasky, “We at Snohomish Fire District 10 are very appreciative to be working with the Army to facilitate emergency fire and EMS services from this great location.  This bill really assures that we will continue our fire and EMS services for decades to come, and be able to serve the greater Bothell community.”

The Queensborough Firehouse has occupied its current site for twenty-four years and needs to be rebuilt.  The Army agreed that the land adjacent to the firehouse would be best used for continued emergency services by transferring that land to Snohomish County Fire Protection District #10.