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Inslee listens to a constituent.

Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Public Safety

Inslee announces land swap for Bothell-area firehouse

28 July 2008

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) announced today that the Snohomish Fire District #10 will receive much-needed land from the Army to construct a new Queensborough Firehouse after the Army gave final approval for the land deal last week.

Inslee, along with U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), helped broker the deal between the fire department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency in charge of land purchases and sales. The lawmakers included language authorizing the land swap under a provision in the Defense Authorization Act of 2005.

After long negotiations on terms of the deal, Army Deputy Assistant Secretary Joe Calcara signed off on the land transfer last Monday. In exchange for the land parcel, the fire district will perform in-kind services and repairs for the Army.

“These firefighters are community heroes and provide invaluable emergency services for the Army and area residents,” said Inslee, who represents the south Snohomish County in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I’m proud land transfer was approved so that these hard-working men and women can continue to save lives, help those in danger and enhance national security. This is a win-win situation for Bothell and the Army.”

“We’re very pleased to have this land conveyance be completed,” said Snohomish County Fire District #10 Commissioner Mike Norris. “Next up, we will be working to replace the existing Queensborough firehouse, built in 1979 for volunteer use, with a new and expanded facility. It’s all still in the planning stages, but when it’s done we anticipate staffing it 24 hours a day, seven days per week with additional staff members and equipment. These improvements will increase the safety of the residents of southeast Snohomish County by decreasing response times to emergency calls. The new firehouse will be an asset that the community can use for years to come.”

The language in the defense bill allowed the transfer of land from the Army to the Snohomish County Fire District #10. Ownership of the land has been a high priority for the fire department, which leased part of the land from the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC).

The USARC previously had not used the parcel and were open to allowing the fire department to use it. The fire district worked closely with the Army and Congress to complete the land transfer.

The Queensborough Firehouse has occupied its current site for almost 30 years and is in desperate need of major repair or replacement. A new or rebuilt firehouse will be constructed on the current site and adjacent land acquired in this week’s deal.