Welcome to Benton County Fire District #1

The Fire District Board of Commissioners hold their regular Board Meetings at the Fire Training Center 1811 S. Ely Street Kennewick WA, 99337. Should you prefer to attend the meeting virtually, you can find the Zoom link below:

Click Here for Information on Accessing Zoom Virtual Board Meetings

Benton County Fire District #1 provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and public information to a population of about 18,600 living within the 320 square mile Fire District and to those passing through southeast Benton County on the Interstate, on the rail system or on the Columbia River.

Fire Levy Information

How We Fund Emergency Services

Benton County Fire District #1 (BCFD#1) operates under a balanced budget and has a history of clean audits. Daily emergency operations are funded by a fire levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value paid through property taxes. BCFD#1 is a separate taxing district and receives no funding from Benton County.

The fire district does not have an EMS levy, which means we also fund emergency medical services out of the fire levy. EMS calls account for 68% of all emergency responses.

Over time, the fire levy rate falls as property values rise to restrict the fire district to roughly the same amount of revenue per year. This means that fire district revenue does not increase by the same percentage as the assessed value of your property. For example, voters renewed the fire levy at $1.50/$1,000 in 2018 and it has fallen to $1.23 in 2025.

Our fire district occasionally asks for a “lid lift” to return the fire levy to its original amount, which restores funding for emergency services.

Revenue Challenges

Call volumes continue to increase, and EMS calls alone have increased 58% since 2018. More calls mean higher costs and those costs are higher due to inflation. Many of these costs are also out of the fire district’s control. For example, the cost for a fire engine has almost doubled from $600,000 to $1 million. Insurance costs have increased 118% and 911 dispatch services are up 86%. IT and cyber security is up 88%.

These cost increases impact our ability to provide services. Reduced service levels also could hurt our “risk rating,” which is linked to what many residents pay in homeowner’s and renter’s insurance premiums.

Maintaining the Level and Quality of Emergency Services 

BCFD#1 is considering asking voters to return the fire levy to $1.50 per $1,000 during the August 5, 2025 primary election. The cost to the owner of property with an assessed value of $422,420 (considered average) would be an additional $4.96 per month/ $59.50 per year. The lid lift would fund:

• Three full-time firefighter/EMTs to respond to higher call volumes and accommodate volunteer work and family schedules
• A new extractor washing machine to thoroughly clean firefighter gear and help limit exposure to carcinogens and dangerous chemicals
• Replacing an ambulance and medical equipment
• Maintenance issues for facilities to extend their usable lives, such as Station 120 on Finley Road

Homeowners who meet income and eligibility requirements will continue to qualify for a property tax exemption. Fire Chief Scott LoParco is available to answer questions at 509-737-0911 or .  Thank you for considering our request.

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