Fire district reverses plans to surplus Semiahmoo station

North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) has changed course on its plans to surplus Station 62 in Semiahmoo after the city of Blaine announced its intent to focus housing growth in west Blaine.

“The number of homes and infill that would bring would highlight the need for a fire station there in the near future,” NWFR chief Jason Van der Veen said.

In September, the NWFR Board of Fire Commissioners discussed the future of the station, which is vacant and in need of renovations that the fire district can’t afford, including over $350,000 to fix water damage.

Van der Veen previously said the fire district, especially strapped for cash after repeated failed levy attempts, needed to direct its finances toward Station 63 in Birch Bay, where call volume was higher.

Before the property could be declared surplus, the fire district was required to contact the city of Blaine, as the city has first right of refusal stemming from a 2013 quit claim deed where NWFR purchased the property from the city for $1.

However, in mid-October, the city of Blaine unveiled its plan to de-annex the 552-acre, undeveloped Grandis Pond property in east Blaine and rezone 455 acres of urban growth area (UGA) southwest of Semiahmoo. The city would also de-annex 37 acres near Dakota Creek and add 124 acres of UGA in southeast Blaine for manufacturing.

After learning of the intended shift to housing in west Blaine, Van der Veen said NWFR sent a letter to the city in October indicating that it would keep the Semiahmoo station. The station is at 9001 Semiahmoo Parkway, just north of Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club.

In a unanimous approval of Resolution 1967-25, Blaine City Council officially acknowledged the fire district’s request to rescind its communications with the city about surplussing the property during the Blaine City Council meeting on February 10.

City manager Mike Harmon said during the meeting that staff didn’t see a good government use for the building, and the city didn’t want another liability on its books.

“The bones are good,” Harmon said. “It had some siding issues … Just like any structure that doesn’t get used, it has some mold and water penetration. It needs renovation.”

While city council has supported staff’s intent to de-annex Grandis Pond, the plan isn’t set in stone. It will likely need 60 percent approval by voters, which could be one of the first times a city has taken such action in the state, city officials have previously said.

Van der Veen said NWFR will continue status quo with the Semiahmoo station as it lacks money for upgrades or staffing. Harmon said NWFR hoped the tax base from new homes and a successful levy lid lift could fund the station.