Voters support $18M Yakima fire bond

YAKIMA — Voters are approving a $18 million bond that would pay for significant upgrades in the Yakima County Fire District, according to Tuesday night’s preliminary election results.

So far, the bond was being approved by 65.9 percent of the total, or 1,319 votes to 681, preliminary results showed.

The bond measure would cost residents 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For example, the owner of a $300,000 property would pay $84 a year.

The bond would pay for the expansion of three fire stations, build and equip a new headquarters station with a larger dispatch center and acquire new fire apparatus.

Fire District 5 is composed of 15 fire stations and covers 800 square miles, making it the state’s second-largest fire district.

Capital improvements would include adding overnight sleeping quarters, a new firetruck bay, additional office space, and a larger commons area at the Harrah station.

Offices also would be added to stations in Zillah and Sunnyside. The Parker station — built in 1961 — would be retrofitted to house a newer, larger firetruck. Its bay doors are too small for modern equipment.