Thank you for accessing our new web site! Our personnel have worked hard to provide you a helpful and easy to use web site. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about the new web site, or anything else you want an answer for. You can contact us by using the web site or just give us a phone call. I always welcome your phone calls and visits. Call or stop by our main office at 17718 NE 159 St.

The Board of Fire Commissioners has approved the 2009 Budget. Copies of the budget are available to the public. We encourage questions and comments on our budget. The budget includes funding for an addition and remodel to Fire Station 3-2 in Venersborg. The project has been planned for several years and a funding savings plan now allows us to complete the project in 2009.Construction prices are expected to be very reasonable in 2009, keeping the overall costs much lower than anticipated. The project will add two new apparatus bays for fire/EMS apparatus, and provide dormitories and residence quarters for four firefighters. We hope to have the project completed in the fall.

Spring time brings sunshine, flowers and more outside activities. We hope you will be particularly cautious with yard projects, outdoor burning and recreational activities. Spring brings an increase in the number of injuries and deaths related to outdoor recreational activities. Automobile accidents, water-related injuries, pedestrian injuries, and horse related injuries increase during this time of year. More traffic and more people recreating in the area bring more dangers. We hope people will consider these increased dangers when planning springtime activities. We have information and permits available for outdoor burning. Make sure you contact us or the Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency before burning.

We plan to be in the community this spring and summer asking for you input. We want to know more about what you think and how we can improve service to you. We hope to visit as many neighborhoods and homeowners as possible. Information gathered from the visits will also help us with our long range planning.

Mark your calendar for Hockinson Fun Days, May 29-31. The event kicks off with Bingo Night on Friday. Our 21st Annual Pancake Breakfast and Open House is scheduled for May 30, for 7:00 a.m. until noon. The all-you-can-eat breakfast is a great place to enjoy a great breakfast, see old friends and neighbors, visit with firefighters, and participate in our displays and demonstrations. The Fun Days Parade starts at noon, followed by the Fun Days Carnival at Hockinson Middle School. The Hockinson Fun Days Run is scheduled for Sunday.

Our Fire Commissioner meetings are the first and third Wednesday of each month. They are held at 5:00 P.M. at Station 3-1 in Hockinson. We welcome your attendance and participation.

Fire District 3 has a long tradition of excellence. This year we celebrate our 62nd year of serving the Hockinson, Brush Prairie, Venersborg, Battle Ground Lake/Heisson and Rawson Road/Highlands neighborhoods. We have a long history of community involvement in providing excellent, cost effective service. We are committed to continuing that tradition.

We are grateful for your continued support and welcome your questions and comments. Please feel free to contact me at (360) 892-2331, or send an e-mail to steve@fire3.org.

Steve Wrightson
Fire Chief