Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
District 17 seeks merger with Hoodsport Fire & EMS
Hama Hama Fire District 17 has three stations, at 34571 N. U.S. Highway 101 in Lilliwaup, pictured above, Colony Surf and Beacon Point. Fire District 17 residents will vote on a proposed levy lid lift on the April 22 ballot, and if that passes, on a proposed merger into Hoodsport Fire and EMS District 18 on the Aug. 5 ballot.
Residents of Hama Hama Fire District 17 will vote on a proposed levy lid lift on the April 22 ballot, and if that passes, on a proposed merger into Hoodsport Fire and EMS District 18 on the Aug. 5 ballot.
On the April 22 ballot, residents will be asked to increase their tax rate from $0.724 to $0.890 per $1,000 of assessed property value so their tax rate matches Hoodsport Fire's tax rate. If that measure is approved, voters in District 17 will be asked to approve a merger on the August ballot.
If the merger is approved by residents, it will be complete Jan. 1. If the merger passes, Fire District 17 will still be part of a mutual aid agreement with Brinnon Fire and fire districts in Mason County.
District 17 has three stations, at 34571 N. U.S. Highway 101 in Lilliwaup, Colony Surf and Beacon Point.
A Hama Hama Fire District flyer to residents states that the challenges Fire District 17 faces include that it's run by volunteers, most of whom are more than 65 years old. "Our pool of new volunteers is limited," it states.
The District 17 flyer also states several of its volunteers have full-time jobs, limiting their ability to respond. The volunteers respond from their homes, to a station for an apparatus, then to the emergency.
The flyer lists the benefits of the merger as receiving a response from a staffed station around the clock to their emergency, a pool of almost 40 members and a full-time command staff.
Hoodsport Fire & EMS has three fully equipped basic life support ambulances. One ambulance is stationed at station 17-1. The district has two paramedics, two paramedics in training. Two advanced EMTs, 20 emergency department medical technicians and one emergency medical responder on staff. The Hoodsport Fire & EMS has more than 24 certified firefighters on staff.
If the merger is approved, the increased tax collection will begin in 2026. The owner of a $300,000 property can expect to pay about $49.80 per year, or $4.16 a month.
For more questions, call Chief Nadine Brown at 360-362-2012 or Chief Michael Sexton at 360-877-9882.
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