About Our Department
Granite Falls Fire is accepting applications to fill a vacant Commissioner position
Snohomish County Fire District 17 has a vacant Fire Commissioner position that will be filled by appointment by the remaining board members. The appointed member will serve until the November 2013 General Election at which time the seat will be up for election for the remaining 2 years of a 6 year term.
Applicants must be 18 years old, be a registered voter and reside within the fire district boundaries.
The Board of Fire Commissioners is a three member governing body that is responsible for making legislative decisions for the fire district and providing oversight of the administrative operations. Other responsibilities include adopting budgets and policies, negotiating and executing all necessary contracts, conducting business affairs with neighboring districts as well as performing other acts to carry out the goals and mission of Fire District 17.
The member appointed to the position will be required to attend monthly meetings, workshops and other special meetings/events as needed.
Interested persons must submit a letter of interest by 2 p.m. May 23rd to Fire Chief Jim Haverfield, P. O. Box 1049, Granite Falls, WA 98252 or in person at 116 S. Granite Avenue, Granite Falls. The Board will select a qualified candidate subsequent to May 23rd and may schedule interviews at an open public meeting prior to making a selection.
For questions or additional information please contact Chief Haverfield at 360-691-5553.
In April of 1907 a group of enterprising pioneers set in motion the foundation for the Granite Falls Fire Department by establishing the bylaws for a volunteer fire department consisting of a single company and 34 members. Without apparatus or equipment the fledgling organization appealed to the city council for supplies and an operating budget. During those early years the fire department along with the rest of the City of Granite Falls saw fluctuations in population and demand for service in direct relationship to the economy of the day, which was based on logging and mining.
For the next 50 years the fire department was operated under the direction of the city government. In 1958 another group of civic leaders formed Snohomish County Fire Protection District 17 to provide protection to the farms and mills surrounding the city. The 38.5 square miles originally established as the boundaries of Fire District 17 are the same today as when the District was founded. In 1987 the City of Granite Falls was annexed as part of the Fire District.
While gravel and rock quarries have replaced the gold, silver, and copper mines of the early 1900's and single-family housing developmsents have replaced most of the working farms, Fire District 17 still takes pride in its volunteer spirit with 30 part-time firefighters working alongside the 8 full-time employees to provide seven-day-a-week 24-hour a day staffing. Fire District 17 protects a resident population of nearly 9,000 people and in 2002 answered more than 1300 alarm.
The firefighters staff three ambulances, three fire engines, an automobile rescue unit and a water tender from two fire stations. Station 87, built in the early 1900's and located in downtown Granite Falls serves as the headquarters fire station. Station 86 opened in 2001 and is located in the southwest portion of the District near the intersection of 84th Street NE and 163rd Avenue NE. Station 86 is home to resident firefighters and is currently staffed on weekends and holidays.
In addition to providing emergency response, Fire District 17 also provides a wide range of fire prevention and public education services including CPR and First Aid training, home address markers, free smoke detectors, batteries, and bicycle or skateboard helmets for people that need them but cannot afford them.
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