Northshore Fire Earns Improved Fire Protection Class Rating
The Northshore Fire Department was recently notified by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) that the fire protection class rating for the communities of Lake Forest Park and Kenmore has been upgraded from a Class 4 to a Class 3. The new rating will take effect December 1, 2017. Many insurance companies use the WSRB protection class rating to assess insurance premium rates for homeowners and commercial properties.
The WSRB evaluates fire protection capabilities of all Washington communities and rates them on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 indicates exemplary fire protection capabilities, and 10 indicates very poor or no capabilities. This upgrade places the Northshore Fire Department’s rating in the top ten percent for the state.
Protection Class rating is determined by WSRB’s assessment of the fire department’s ability to suppress fires. Categories include:
- Fire Department – distribution of fire stations, engine and ladder companies, pumping capacity, apparatus maintenance, department personnel staffing and training
- Water Supply – adequacy of firefighting water supply including water flow, hydrant locations and system maintenance
- Emergency Communications – evaluation of the community 911 system’s ability to receive and handle calls for emergency services
- Fire Safety Control – fire prevention, public education and building code enforcement
The Northshore Fire Department is very pleased with the results of the recent WSRB rating process. The upgraded rating provides validation of a number of improvements made in the last ten years to enhance operations, training, and fire prevention programs.
The full report from WSRB for each community can be found here: Kenmore - Lake Forest Park
Senate Bill 5454 Eases Merger Restrictions for Fire Districts
Commissioner David Maehren recently had the honor of being present for Governor Inslee’s signing of Senate Bill 5454. This bill changes state law by allowing mergers and/or annexations of Fire Districts within a reasonable proximity, rather than requiring adjacency.
The adjacency requirement was identified as too restrictive during previous consolidation discussions with The City of Bothell, Woodinville Fire Department, and Northshore Fire Department. Commissioner Maehren worked with sponsors of the bill; Senator David Frockt (46th District), Representative Jessyn Farrell (46th District), and Representative Roger Goodman (45th District).
2016 Annual Report
Northshore Fire Department's 2016 Annual Report is now available! We are pleased to share the activities and accomplishments of the last year with you and hope you enjoy the recap.
Fire Commissioner Election Filing Period Opening Soon
Interested in becoming a Fire Commissioner? The filing period for King County Fire Protection District No. 16, Position 1 is May 15-19, 2017. Click here for more information.
Fire Sprinklers Make New Homes Safer
The fire problem in America is in our homes. Between 2010 and 2014 there was an average of 358,000 residential structure fires each year. More than 90 percent of civilian fire deaths and 40 percent of firefighter fire ground deaths occurred at single family residential structure fires. During this five year span, an average of seven people died every day in residential fires.
Information provided in the March 2017 newsletter published by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office, indicated there were 55 fire related deaths in Washington State in 2016. Twelve of the 55 deaths occurred here in King County.Read more
Check Out Our New Website!
Northshore Fire Department is excited to announce the launch of our new website designed by Galactic Ideas!
This updated site has a fresh new look and was designed to provide user-friendly access to as much information as possible about our department and the services we provide. Featuring frequently updated content that includes, News, CPR class sign ups, Permit Applications, Social Media interfaces, and more.
Please take a few minutes to check out the exciting additions and follow us on Instagram and Facebook, or stay in touch by joining our e-mail Newsletter.
Consumer Alert – Red Safety
Northshore Fire has received complaints from multiple parties that Red Safety, a private company that sells and installs monitored home security systems, are misrepresenting themselves as Firefighters or EMTs and using deceptive and high-pressure sales tactics to get potential customers to buy expensive, and sometimes substandard, or unnecessary alarm systems.
Recently their services were advertised on the Kenmore Neighbors' Facebook page. The Northshore Fire Department DOES NOT endorse any private enterprise selling security systems or engage in any kind of unsolicited door to door safety inspections.
Fire Marshal LaFlam Profiled in The National Fire Protection Association Journal
In recognition of his home fire sprinkler advocacy work, our Fire Marshal, Jeff LaFlam, was profiled in the current issue of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Journal!
Check out his story here.
Northshore Fire Department Reduces It’s Bond Debt
Kenmore, WA – The Northshore Fire Department has retired more than $1.9 million in long-term bond debt, saving taxpayers roughly $1.1 million in interest payments over the next 15 years.
The debt was incurred in 2009 when the fire department issued $17 million in voter approved bonds to fund the purchase of property and construction of its new headquarters station and training facility in Kenmore.
The bond debt reduction was made possible by the sale of the fire department’s former headquarters station. The Board of Fire Commissioners took action to use the proceeds from the sale to retire the last year of what was a 20 year bond.
The former station served as Northshore’s headquarters from 1977 to 2011, and is now home to Colombia Crest Montessori School.