WESTPORT, Wash. — Voters in the South Beach Regional Fire Authority service area will decide this August whether to approve a bond measure that would fund renovations to a newly acquired building in the Englewood area, converting it into a modern fire station designed to meet current emergency response needs.

The South Beach Regional Fire Authority Board of Fire Commissioners recently approved a resolution placing the measure on the Aug. 4, 2026 primary election ballot. If approved, the bond would finance upgrades to a property the agency has purchased with the goal of improving response times, firefighter safety, and long-term operational capability.

According to the fire authority, the Englewood location offers several advantages over the current Westport station. The property is more centrally located within the response district, sits at a higher elevation outside identified flood and tsunami hazard zones, and is situated across the road from the agency’s existing training facility.

The proposal comes as the fire authority continues to assess the limitations of its current fire station, which was built in 1972 and was not originally designed to serve as a modern emergency response facility. While the building has been modified over time to accommodate fire and EMS operations, officials say it no longer meets many current safety, accessibility, and operational standards.

Among the concerns cited are the station’s location within a flood and tsunami zone and the fact that it was not constructed to modern seismic standards. The building’s layout also presents operational challenges. For example, sleeping quarters are located a significant distance from apparatus bays, which can increase response times during overnight emergencies.

Fire officials also note the absence of modern firefighter health and safety features, including diesel exhaust removal systems and dedicated decontamination areas intended to reduce exposure to cancer-causing contaminants.

“To continue providing reliable emergency response, we need a facility that allows firefighters and paramedics to respond quickly and operate safely,” said Fire Chief Daryl Brown. “This proposal is about making sure our community has a station that supports today’s emergency response needs.”

If approved, the 25-year bond would cost an estimated $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a home valued at $350,000, that equates to approximately $10.79 per month, or about $129.50 annually.

Additional information about the proposal is available at sbrfa.org/bond-information. Fire Chief Daryl Brown is also offering presentations to community groups this spring and plans to host public question-and-answer sessions this summer.

The South Beach Regional Fire Authority provides fire and emergency medical services to approximately 6,000 year-round residents across 32 square miles in southwest Grays Harbor and north Pacific County, including Westport, Ocosta, Grayland, North Cove/Tokeland, and the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. The combination department operates with full-time, part-time, and volunteer personnel who respond to roughly 1,800 emergency calls annually.