Island County Fire District 3 officials get update on project

An update on a proposed new headquarters and training center at Bayview will be given to Island County Fire District 3 commissioners at their regular meeting this week.

An update on a proposed new headquarters and training center at Bayview will be given to Island County Fire District 3 commissioners at their regular meeting this week.

Commissioners will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Freeland Fire Station, 5535 Cameron Road.

Originally envisioned was a 10,000-square-foot, two-bay fire station, a 5,400-square-foot administration building and a 400-square-foot training tower on a 9.4-acre, L-shaped parcel owned by the district between the Good Cheer Food Bank and Bayview School.

The latest cost estimate for the project by the district’s architects was about $4.4 million.

Officials said the state of the economy, plus recent improvements and additions to existing fire stations, may mean a revised plan for Bayview is in order.

Commissioners also will get updates on the search for a new name for the department, and on meetings with the Port of South Whidbey regarding logistics for a new fire boat if a federal grant comes through.