OUR HISTORY​

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In April of 1907, a group of enterprising pioneers laid the foundation for what would become the Granite Falls Fire Department. They established bylaws for a volunteer fire department consisting of a single company with 34 members. With no apparatus or equipment, this fledgling organization appealed to the Granite Falls City Council for supplies and an operating budget. During these early years, the fire department, like the City itself, experienced periods of growth and decline closely tied to the local economy, which was driven by logging and mining.

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For the next 50 years, the fire department operated under the direction of the City of Granite Falls. In 1958, another group of civic leaders formed Snohomish County Fire Protection District No. 17 to provide fire protection services to the farms and mills surrounding the city. The District’s original boundaries encompassed 38.5 square miles, boundaries that remain unchanged until 2023 when Snohomish County Fire District #23 (Robe Valley Fire) merged into Fire District 17 growing the district to 50.5 square miles. In 1987, the City of Granite Falls was annexed into Fire District 17, unifying fire protection services for the community and surrounding areas.

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While gravel and rock quarries have replaced the gold, silver, and copper mines of the early 1900s, and single-family housing developments have replaced much of the region’s working farmland, Fire District 17 continues to take pride in its strong volunteer spirit. Today, the District is staffed by 18 full-time firefighter/EMTs, 18 part-time firefighter/EMTs, four single-role paramedics, one Deputy Chief, one Assistant Chief, and one Fire Chief. Together, they provide 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency services to a resident population of approximately 15,000 people. In 2025 alone, Fire District 17 responded to 2,544 alarms.

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Paramedics staff one to two Advanced Life Support (ALS) units per day, based on staffing availability. Firefighter/EMTs staff three ambulances, two fire engines, one water tender, and a brush truck operating out of two fire stations.

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“Old Station 87,” built in the early 1900s and located in downtown Granite Falls, served as the District’s headquarters from the 1960s through 2025. On January 5, 2026, Fire District 17 began operations at “New Station 87,” located at 20217 Gun Club Road. This approximately 17,000-square-foot facility can house up to seven apparatus, provides living quarters for up to eight personnel, and serves as the District’s headquarters and administrative center. Station 86, which opened in 2001, is located in the southwest portion of the District near the intersection of 84th Street NE and 163rd Avenue NE. Together, the two stations are staffed by a combination of up to nine full-time and part-time personnel on duty at all times.

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In addition to emergency response services, Fire District 17 is committed to community risk reduction through fire prevention and public education programs. These services include blood pressure checks, address plate distribution, and fire station tours and visits.