District Information

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	Station 150	District Office

MISSION STATEMENT

The Benton County Fire Protection District #1 (BCFPD1) mission is to provide the citizens of BCFPD1 with fire suppression of and fire protection from hostile fires, emergency medical and rescue services in support of emergency medical transport agencies, and response to and management of hazardous materials incidents. BCFPD1 also responds and participates in multi-agency fire, emergency medical and hazardous materials incidents in accordance with contractual and mutually agreed commitments.

DISTRICT INCIDENT STATISTICS

DESCRIPTION	TOTALS
Total Responses 2007	1,034
Fire Responses	192
Medical Emergencies	512
Hazardous Materials	13
Other (service call, good intent, false call, severe weather)	317

This page last updated 05/08/2007

BACKGROUND

Benton County Fire District One is a special purpose service district established to provide services under R.C.W. 52. The Fire District serves an area of approximately 350 square miles surrounding the City of Kennewick and the Southeastern portion of Benton County. The Fire District is bounded by the Columbia and Yakima River on the North, the Columbia River on the East and South, and a line between Benton City to Plymouth on the West. The cities of Kennewick, Richland, and West Richland deduct some land from the Northern portions of the Fire District. Approximately 75% of the Fire District land area is farming or range lands. The remaining 25% surrounds the cities and is now, or will become urban in nature. There is a small portion of the District in the Finley area that is heavy industry, with large chemical facilities, cold storage and some developing industrial uses. The current population of the Fire District is approximately 21,000 people, with 90% of those people living in the areas surrounding the cities.

The Fire District, as a special purpose district, is governed by an elected board of three fire commissioners. The Board of Fire Commissioners is responsible for policy of the District and assuring an adequate financial base to meet the legal and service demand requirements of the public.

HISTORY

Benton County Fire Protection District One was formed September 23, 1946. The first fire engine was housed in a city of Kennewick fire station. The city firefighters operated the fire engine on fire calls in the county. In July of 1958 the first Fire District station was opened at 27th and Olympia Street. That fire station, after being remodeled and added on to three times, is still in operation. The second fire station was opened in a rented garage on Finley Road in 1959. This current fire station, which has also had three remodels and additions, is located across the street from the original station. The third station was built at its current location at Grant and Canal Streets in 1960, and has been remodeled and added to once. This station continues to operate and serves areas throughout the District with a selection of special, one of a kind apparatus. The fourth station opened at the Richland Y in the late 1950's. This station operated until annexations by the City of Richland reduced the need and the station was closed. The Fire District opened a station, again in a rented garage, on Bermuda Road in Rancho Reata in 1981. This station was replaced with a permanent facility across the street in 1984. As the District grew, and due to insurance requirements, a fifth station was built in Badger Canyon in 1992.

Although fire districts in Washington State were originally chartered in 1939 to provide fire protection, that mission has changed. Benton County Fire District One, like all fire districts serving urban populations, now provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials control, and containment and public information to its citizenry and those who may be passing through the Fire District on the Interstate, on the rail system or on the Columbia River.