Politics & Government

Kirkland Fire Chief Inviting Finn Hill Residents to Chat

Following citizens' complaints about the process for the proposed fire station, Kevin Nalder will launch a series of "Coffee with the Chief" appearances Saturday at the Finn Hill QFC.

Kirkland Fire Chief Kevin Nalder is inviting residents to join him for coffee Saturday to talk about plans to build a new station on Finn Hill that the fire department says will reduce emergency response times and improve fire service.

It will be the first of a series of “Coffee with the Chief” appearances to increase public participation in the planning, a response to comments made during a lively public meeting in March. During that meeting, Finn Hill residents complained about a lack of notice in the planning for a controversial proposed location for the new station inside .

Fire officials want to sell two smaller stations on Finn Hill and consolidate them into one larger station, which they say will be better located to improve response time on the hill and in newly annexed areas, and cheaper to operate. Proceeds from the sale of the existing stations would pay for the new one.

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Much of Finn Hill is currently part of unincorporated King County, but has been annexed by Kirkland and will become part of the city on June 1.

The city and Fire District 41, which provides service to the area but will be dissolved when annexation takes effect, had been negotiating with King County to acquire the site for a new station in the park. But commissioners recently decided to consider new sites, and are working out an agreement with the city to continue the planning process after annexation takes effect.

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Nalder will be at the Finn Hill QFC store, 14130 Juanita Drive NE, Saturday from 10 a.m to 1 p.m.


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