The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is purchasing a former Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue fire station outside Longview to better support wildland firefighting capacity in southwest Washington.

 

The Board of Natural Resources approved the $995,000 transaction Tuesday morning during its monthly meeting in Olympia. The 1.24-acre site includes 5,800 square feet of building space.

 

“By acquiring this facility in Cowlitz County, we will be able to reach more wildfires quickly, and initial attack is crucial for protecting lives and property,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “The sooner firefighters reach a fire, the more likely the fires are to stay small, protecting our forests from burning and keeping our skies from being choked with smoke.”

 

Purchasing the surplus station and renovating it for DNR’s wildland firefighting needs is significantly less expensive than the cost of acquiring land and building a new facility. The building will also serve as a work center for state lands management and forest regulation staff.

 

Funding for the purchase was provided by the Washington State Legislature.

 

“We are pleased to be able to assist our partners at DNR to improve their response times to protect lives and property in Cowlitz County, and the proceeds from this sale will help us implement our capital improvement plan to improve service to our community,” said Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue board chairman Jeff Cameron.

 

Last December, the Board of Natural Resources approved a similar transaction, purchasing the former Dallesport Elementary School in the Columbia River Gorge to convert it to a regional wildfire response center.

 

The funds for the purchase will go toward Cowlitz 2’s newer station for residents near Longview and Kelso. 

 

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