Our History

A Brief History of the Northshore Fire Department King County Fire District #16

Kenmore in 1925, was a small community on the north shore of Lake Washington. Barely more than a village, the area was home to about 150 residents, a couple of service stations, restaurants, grocery store and lumber mill. Kenmore was little more than a stop along the Seattle Lakeshore and Eastern Railroad that ran from Seattle to Bothell and points eastward. This rail right-of-way was later converted to the Burke Gilman Trail. A narrow brick road also ran through the community (now known as Bothell Way). The railroad brought trees from the rich forests of the Cascades to the lake shore where log rafts were formed to supply the numerous mills around Lake Washington, including Kenmore. The name of "Logboom Park" was derived from the logging activity at the end of the lake.

In the post depression 1930's, the region began to develop. New neighborhoods were developed in the Moorlands, Arrowhead and Linwood Heights areas of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. The community suffered the occasional fire, but without a local fire department, the house would usually burn to the ground. The local residents were entirely dependant upon the services of the Bothell Fire Department or the county owned fire truck located in Redmond. After considerable discussion, Kenmore's community leaders were called upon to create their own fire department.

On October 15, 1942, the Board of County Commissioners declared a proposition by the voters to have carried and King County Fire Protection District #16 was officially formed. In 1948, the areas of Sheridan Beach and Lake Forest Park voted to annex into the fire district.

The District ordered their first fire truck through an application with the War Production Board, raising the $5,400 purchase price through community fund raisers. Because delivery was delayed due to the war activity, the County owned fire truck from Redmond was moved to a vacant gas station along Bothell Way, the current site of the Kenmore Safeway store. In June of 1943, the District took delivery of their new engine, a 100 HP Ford. This truck stayed in service until it was retired in 1958.

The District's first real fire station was opened on August 14, 1948 on 67th Ave NE, just off Bothell Way. The original 2 bay station was expanded to 4 bays in 1958 and sold when the current headquarters station opened in 1977. The building was remodeled and currently houses a camera store.

The District opened its second fire station in the Moorlands area in 1961 to reduce the response time to nearby residents. This was closed when the Lake Forest Park station was opened in 1994.

The continued growth of the region added to the department's need to purchase another fire engine and the introduction of Emergency Medical Services to the region. In 1949, a Ward-LaFrance engine with a 750 GPM pump was purchased. This engine continued service in reserve status until its retirement in 1968. 1950 saw the purchase of a 1948 State Patrol cruiser and its conversion into an aid car using a surplus army canvas stretcher and Emerson resuscitator. A 1,250 GPM Mack fire engine was purchased in 1958.

More powerful Kenworth fire trucks with Heiser bodies were purchased in 1964 and 1968 to meet the higher fire flow requirements of the growing community. In 1974, as part of the newly developed King County Medic One EMS system, the long history of the department's delivery of emergency medical care was rewarded with a new aid car to replace a 1963 International Travelall that had been converted for use as an aid car. In 1979 a new FMC/Spartan engine was purchased.

The Fire District also responded to the water-borne public safety issues encountered with 3-1/2 miles of lakefront and parks, seaplanes and marinas. In 1963 the District acquired a surplus 26' Navy Shore Boat and converted it for use as a fire boat. The boat was named the "Bill Bailey" in honor of Mr. Bailey's many years of service and dedication to the Department and community. Many of the volunteer fire fighters became certified as SCUBA divers and formed a dive team to rescue drowning victims. A new 33' fire boat christened "Volunteer" was launched in 1967. An Ed Monk design, it featured an enclosed cabin with flying bridge, two 290 HP marine drive engines, a 500 GPM pump and speed in excess of 35 knots. The fire/rescue boat responded to incidents throughout Lake Washington, including several trips to the Seafair Hydroplane races as the primary fire and rescue boat during the weeklong competition. The boat was sold in 1987 after it fell into disrepair.

In 1977, a new headquarters station (#51) was opened on 73rd Ave NE, replacing the small, original station. The new station featured eight apparatus bays, meeting room, offices and living quarters plus outdoor training space and a training tower.

In 1985, the residents of our community passed a bond issue to add additional space to the headquarters fire station in Kenmore, fund a new fire station in Lake Forest Park, purchase two engines and an aid car. A Ford/Road Rescue combination Aid/Rescue vehicle arrived in 1987. It featured the patient compartment of an aid car with exterior compartments to carry a hydraulic "Jaws-of-Life" rescue tool. Two Smeal/Duplex 1,500 GPM engines were also delivered in 1987. They featured the departments first fully enclosed cabs and met the latest safety standards.

In 1994, after considerable delays finding a suitable location, Station #57 was opened in Lake Forest Park. It features three apparatus bays and living quarters for a crew of six.

The purchase of new vehicles continues along a pre-planned schedule, replacing the engines after approximately twenty years and the aid cars after about seven. The most recent purchases include the acquisition of a 1989 Ford/Hesse rescue truck, a 2000 Ford/Braun aid car, a 1998 3D/HME fire engine and a 2002 BME/HME fire engine.

When formed in 1942, the District was known as "The Kenmore Fire Department". By the mid 1980's the District recognized the name wasn't representative of its service area (Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and the surrounding areas) and changed its name to become known as the "Northshore Fire Department". Since it's inception in 1942, the mission of the Fire Department and its members has been quality service to the community. A new logo for the fire department was designed that incorporated the new name, images of Lake Washington, Mount Rainier, a sea plane along with the phrase "Dedicated to Community Service".