Fire District 3 is seeking volunteers to serve on “for” and “against” committees related to the August 1 2023 ballot measure that will ask voters if the lid lift should be approved.

Appointed committee member will write for or against statements for submission to the Clark County Elections Office.  The statements will appear in the August 1, 2023 Special Election Voters’ Online Guide.  For information about election regulations and the responsibility of committee members, see the Clark County Elections Department Election Guide for Jurisdictions.

Eligible Fire District 3 committee members must reside within the district boundaries. An application to apply for either committee is available online at https://fire3.org/fire-levy-lid-lift/ or at Fire District 3, Station 31 at 17718 NE 159^th Street in Brush Prairie.  Applications are due by May 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm.

Information about Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the lid lift is available at www.fire3.org.

Proposal will appear on the August 1, 2023, primary election ballot

The Clark County Fire District 3 Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 1, 2023, primary election ballot. The lid lift would fund additional personnel to respond to higher call volumes and meet industry best practices. It would also fund the renovation of Station 34 to provide 24-hour staffing to reduce response times.

“Our current staffing model prevents us from entering buildings unless another engine company is on scene,” Fire Chief Scott Sorenson said. “This is not in line with industry best practices and can delay our response. The additional staffing will allow us to meet the emergency service level needs of our growing community.”

State code requires four firefighters on scene to carry out interior structural fire operations. Currently, the district’s two-person engine companies require another engine company on scene before interior fire operations or rescues can occur. If there is a known rescue situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, firefighters can take such rescue action if there are at least three firefighters present and equipped to provide emergency assistance or rescue of the team.

If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift would allow for three-person engine companies, which is the industry best practice for fire districts the size of Fire District 3. This means that rescue operations can be initiated (with a three-person engine company) and interior fire operations can start with just one more firefighter arriving in a smaller vehicle, which is more cost-effective.

The lid lift will also fund technical training (swift water, high angles and ropes) to decrease the reliance on outside agency help, which takes longer to reach people in an emergency. It will fund the remodel of Station 34 in the Rawson Road/Elkhorn/Summer Hill area to provide full-time 24-hour staffing to reduce response times. Additionally, the lid lift will replace a fire engine, ambulance and other smaller equipment that have reached the end of their usable lives.

The fire levy lid lift is $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value and will cost an additional $12.08 per month or $145 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.

Community invited to learn more and provide comment

BRUSH PRAIRIE, WASH. — The Clark County Fire District 3 Board of Fire Commissioners will meet April 24 to discuss a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 1, 2023, primary election ballot. If approved by voters, it would fund additional emergency personnel, station improvements, technical training and equipment replacements.  

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Station 31, 17718 NE 159^th Street, Brush Prairie. You can also attend virtually. A link to the meeting can be found at http://www.fire3.org.

Fire District 3’s population has grown 26 percent in the last 10 years and this growth is driving higher call volumes for emergency services. The fire district responded to 4,917 calls in 2022 – of which 73 percent were for emergency medical service (EMS).

“Our community has grown significantly,” Fire Chief Scott Sorenson said. “This is a safety issue for our residents and emergency personnel. We require more firefighters to keep up with this demand.”

State code requires four firefighters on scene to carry out interior structural fire operations. Currently, the district’s two-person engine companies require another engine company on scene before interior fire operations or rescues can occur. If there is a known rescue situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, firefighters can take such rescue action if there are at least three firefighters present and equipped to provide emergency assistance or rescue of the team.

If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift would allow for three-person engine companies, which is the industry best practice for fire districts the size of Fire District 3. This means that rescue operations can be initiated and interior fire operations can start with just one more firefighter arriving in a smaller vehicle, which is more cost-effective.

The lid lift will also fund technical training (swift water, high angles and ropes) to decrease the reliance on outside agency help, which takes longer to reach people in an emergency. It will fund the remodel of Station 34 in the Rawson Road/Elkhorn/Summer Hill area to provide full-time 24-hour staffing to reduce response times. Additionally, the lid lift will replace a fire engine, ambulance and other smaller equipment that have reached the end of their usable lives.

The fire levy lid lift would be $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value and cost an additional $12.08 per month or $145 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.

Board of Fire Commissioners considering fire levy lid lift

Clark County Fire District 3 responded to 4,691 calls in 2022. The fire district’s population has grown 26 percent in the last 10 years and this growth is driving higher call volumes for emergency services. The fire district has petitioned the Clark County Council without success to pass impact fees to offset capital costs associated with growth.

“We don’t control growth, but we have to serve it,” Fire Chief Scott Sorenson said. “Our community has grown to the point where we require additional personnel to keep up with requirements to meet the emergency service needs of our community.”

Fire District 3 provides fire and emergency medical service (EMS) to 46,000 people in east Clark County, including the city of Battle Ground. To meet current and future needs, the fire district is discussing asking voters for a fire levy lid lift for daily operations sometime this year and a bond for a fire station further down the road.

“Impact fees would reduce the cost of the new fire station for taxpayers,” Chief Sorenson said. “We will continue to advocate for impact fees so our taxpayers know we are fighting for them.”

The priority now is to add additional emergency personnel to allow for three-person engine companies, which is the national standard for fire districts the size of Fire District 3. The district’s two-person engine companies prevent firefighters from entering buildings to perform search and rescue operations.

The fire district’s current staffing levels place the district out-of-compliance with state law for risk requirements for emergency personnel. This impacts safety for both the community and firefighters.

How the fire district is funded
The fire district funds daily operations, including its EMS program, with a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. EMS calls account for 73 percent of all emergency calls. Voters approved a fire levy of $1.42 per $1,000 in 2017. Since that time, the rate has dropped to $1.21.

Why did the rate drop?
Each year the fire district is allowed to collect a set amount of revenue. State law limits the fire district to that amount plus one percent more each year (or any other voter-approved amount). Even if property values double, the fire district can only collect one percent more. This means that the levy rate falls as property values rise to limit the fire district to the same amount per year plus that one percent increase.

This is called “levy compression” and impacts the fire district’s ability to provide emergency services.

The fire district is considering asking voters to return the fire levy to $1.50 per $1,000 sometime this year, known as a fire levy lid lift. There will be a public process conducted before a final decision is made.

“We have always delivered on promised projects and improvements from past fire levy lid lifts,” Chief Sorenson said. “We are your fire district and we are accountable to you. We look forward to this important conversation.”

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Clark County Fire District 3 provides fire and life safety services to 46,000 people in east Clark County, including the city of Battle Ground. Fifty-seven full-time and 10 volunteer emergency personnel responded to 4,691 calls in 2022. Fire District 3 operates under a balanced budget and has a long history of passing its financial and accountability audits by the state. More information on Fire District 3 can be found on its website www.fire3.org.