On October 15, 1942, the Board of County Commissioners declared a proposition by the voters had 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'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.
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.
In 1994, after considerable delays finding a suitable location, Station #57 was opened in Lake Forest Park. It featured three apparatus bays and living quarters for a crew of six. In 2004 Station 57 was updated to accommodate a Medic unit and two medics.
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 and Lake Forest Park) and changed its name to 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".
