Thank You Camano Island Residents!
Since the approval of a $10 million facilities bond in 2007, CIFR has been hard at work upgrading our facilities to meet current seismic standards and to better serve our growing Island population. While 2008 was spent focused on "behind the scenes" paperwork, planning and permitting, 2009 brought with it sawdust and the first public signs of progress.
We look forward to the completion of these many improvements and operating in newer, safer buildings that will help us to better serve our community. Having entered this process at one of the best bidding times in recent history, we remain on-time and on-budget and have had a positive impact on the local economy.
2009 has seen CIFR transition into a safer, more efficient Department. Thank you, Camano Island, for continuing to support your Fire Department!
Mabana Station
With funds provided by this bond, CIFR has been able to address the water supply issue on the south end of Camano Island. Due to the lack of a water source, CIFR has historically had to tap residential water supplies to fight fires. This bond was used to construct a 44,000 gallon water tank at the Mabana Station. Adjacent to the existing water, it is designed to provide more water, faster and is now fully operational and in-service.
Country Club
Firefighters spent last summer in temporary quarters in Lost Lake and the Onamac areas to allow for seismic retrofits on Station 2. In addition, living quarters were constructed to transition the station originally built for a volunteer staff into a station equipped to staff a fulltime crew. Crews returned to the completed station in January 2010. Thank you Lost Lake and Onamac residents for your patience and understanding during the construction phase!
The Fire District is continuing its work with local community groups on the sale of the historic schoolhouse.
Madrona /
Passers by have watched the rapid construction of our new station located on the corner of Vista and West Camano Drive. After breaking ground in August of 2009, the contractor has indicated we may be move-in ready as early as August (several months earlier than expected). While CIFR is excited to move into this new facility, we continue to work with the community to find an appropriate use for the old Madrona Station.
- The District was pleased to receive an "AA" bond rating from the national rating agency of Standard & Poor's. Information on the bond rating can be found in this Press Release. You can download a copy of the Standard & Poor's Document.