City of Kirkland Delivers on Fire Prop 1 Investments

Published on January 09, 2026

Fire Prop 1 Completion Collage

Media Contact:
Angela Brown
Communications Program Coordinator
abrown@kirklandwa.gov

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Five years after voters overwhelmingly approved Fire Proposition 1, the City of Kirkland has completed the projects and staffing funded by the voter-approved levy - meeting its commitments to improve emergency response times and protect firefighter health and safety.

"Fire Prop 1 shows what's possible when we work together toward shared goals," said Councilmember Amy Falcone. "Community members helped shape the priorities of community and firefighter safety, voters approved the plan, and the City delivered on its commitments. We're proud that all projects were delivered within five years, on schedule, and under budget."

Approved by more than 71 percent of voters in November 2020, Fire Prop 1 was designed to address critical needs facing the Fire Department, including aging facilities, response-time challenges, firefighter safety concerns, and preparedness for large-scale emergencies such as pandemics.

“Fire Prop 1 represented a promise to our community to invest wisely, act with urgency, and strengthen public safety for the long term,” said Fire Chief Joe Sanford. “Because of the trust voters placed in us, we were able to modernize our fire stations, improve response times citywide, and create healthier working environments for our firefighters. We’re proud to say those promises were kept.”

Key Investments Delivered Through Fire Prop 1

Fire Prop 1 funded a comprehensive set of improvements that are now complete, including:

  • Staffing Enhancements: The hiring of 20 additional firefighter/EMTs, improving daily response times across the city and providing operational resilience during emergencies.
  • Pandemic Preparedness: The creation of a dedicated stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure continuity of emergency services during public health crises.
  • Fire Station Improvements:
    • Replacement and relocation of Fire Station 27 to the eastern side of I-405 in Totem Lake.
    • Renovation and modernization of Fire Stations 21 (Forbes Creek), 22 (Houghton), and 26 (North Rose Hill), which were all originally built before modern safety, seismic, and infrastructure standards.
  • Firefighter Health and Safety Upgrades: Station designs now reduce carcinogen exposure through features such as negative-pressure gear storage rooms and improved diesel exhaust capture systems, helping limit long-term health risks.
  • Seismic and Infrastructure Upgrades: Reinforced station construction to meet modern safety standards and ensure operational readiness during earthquakes and other emergencies.

Final community open houses for Fire Stations 21 and 26 were held in late 2025, marking the completion of all Fire Prop 1 capital projects.

Community-Driven Planning

The success of Fire Prop 1 was rooted in extensive community involvement. In 2019, the City Council convened a Community Safety Advisory Group comprised of Kirkland residents, business owners, and youth and senior council representatives. Over five months of in-depth meetings, the group developed recommendations that directly shaped the ballot measure, concluding its work just days before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Lasting Investment in Community Safety

With Fire Prop 1 now fully implemented, Kirkland residents are benefiting from faster emergency response times, safer and more resilient fire stations, and improved long-term health protections for firefighters. These investments will serve the community for decades to come.

The City of Kirkland extends its sincere thanks to the community members who supported Fire Prop 1, the Community Safety Advisory Group, whose early work helped shape the measure, and the firefighters and staff who worked together to see it through.

For more information about the Fire & Emergency Medical Services 2020 Ballot Measure, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/fireballot2020.

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