Friday, October 2, 2026
Lacey Fire District 3 released the fourth and fifth installments of its Proposition 1 public information series, detailing the projects proposed under the district’s $98.3 million bond measure ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election
Fire District 3 Chief Jennifer Schmidt said the bond package would fund replacement of outdated facilities, expand emergency response capabilities and support anticipated growth.
The package includes the relocation of Station 32, constructing Station 36 in the Hawks Prairie area north of Interstate 5 (I-5), developing a regional training facility, building a permanent logistics warehouse and paying off the remaining balance on a 2025 property purchase.
The fourth installment, released on July 24, outlined the case for relocating Station 32 from its current location on Yelm Highway.
Schmidt said the station currently consists of a 1970s cinder block apparatus bay and a double-wide manufactured home.
“Neither of these buildings were designed to support a modern response station 24/7,” Schmidt said. “To improve response effectiveness, the project will require the purchase of property further west down the Yelm Highway corridor.”
Schmidt also outlined the remaining projects in the bond package.
She said Hawks Prairie currently relies on a single fire station north of I-5, leaving the area vulnerable during natural disasters. Construction of Station 36 would close that gap and provide additional emergency response capacity.
The proposal also includes a regional training facility because firefighters now leave the district to train at Olympia’s facility, as well as a permanent logistics warehouse to replace leased storage space for emergency equipment and supplies.
The fifth installment, released on Monday, Aug. 3, explained why the district selected the proposed site for Station 32.
Schmidt said placing the station farther west would improve coverage and strengthen mutual aid with surrounding fire agencies during major disasters.
“By optimizing Station 32’s coverage, we directly reduce the number of out-of-area calls that our neighboring stations, like Station 33 or 31, have to cover,” Schmidt said. “That means more units remaining available in their own neighborhoods when the seconds count.”
Bond proceeds would also retire the remaining balance on the district's 2025 property purchase loan, eliminating about $1 million in annual debt payments and saving an estimated $7 million in interest over the life of the loan.
“By funding our infrastructure through a capital bond, we protect our daily operational levies so we can keep our response times fast and our crews fully staffed,” Schmidt said.
According to district materials, Proposition 1 is estimated to increase property taxes by 22 to 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $8 to $11 per month for a median home price of $500,000.
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MartyKenney
Oh my gosh, you're telling me you have to travel all the way to OLYMPIA to train???? what a catastrophe. Yes, please take more of my money... I didnt want it anyway.
As for Station 36, aren't all the sub developments happening in Hawks Prairie supposed to be paying for that?
In times of financial shortages, asking the taxpayers for more money for multi-million dollar facilities is selfish. Why not just make it work with the spaces you have? Staying the in the cinder block and double wide facility sounds like a great opportunity to be conservative and support keeping Lacey affordable.
Thursday, August 6 Report this
OlyBlues
Lacey fire shows zero restraint when it comes to spending money. What an outrage they must travel to Olympia to train! The humanity!! Their equipment and 90% of their stations are newer, top notch equipment and apparatus'. Interesting how they never post their personnel, administration, and salary schedules nor the wages and overtime they paid out for the previous year. This level of transparency would assist voters with understanding the overall costs of personnel and goods and services and property costs.
Lacey Fire has so much money they can afford their own paid "support unit" and staff to bring firefighters snacks and water during larger fires. What are they doing to reduce costs or live within their means? Instead of realizing the community is struggling with higher costs and living within their means it is build, build, build! They should post video tours of their stations so we can see the Lazy Boy chairs, workout rooms, TV and gaming areas and huge kitchens. All amenities none of the rest of our workplaces have an miraculously are able to still work. Vote NO for this excessive levy!
Thursday, August 6 Report this
SarahResident
They put a sign up at the future site of station 36 yesterday and started clearing brush out today. I thought they hadn't had funding confirmed yet and construction was slated for April '27 ?
Thursday, September 17 Report this