RFA News and Information

The History behind the RFA Efforts

In 1986 Fire District #2 paid for a study to be done of District services by Fire Service Associates. This study identified that consolidation with the City of Montesano Fire Department was the direction the Fire District should pursue. This study also identified that this course of action would also be in the best interest of the City. However, this recommendation was not acted upon because the elected officials did not feel the political climate was right.

Two meetings to discuss consolidation were held in the 1990’s and the facts determined that consolidation had benefits but the groups again did not feel that the time or politics were right.

In 2002 the Fire Chief’s of both Fire District #2 and The City of Montesano met several times to discuss reviving consolidation. They were successful in bringing the District Board of Commissioners and the City Public Safety Committee together. However it was again decided that that the two groups could not work together politically.

In April 2003 District #2, #5 and Montesano conducted joint meetings to discuss Regional Fire Authority and consolidation and it was determined that District 2 did not want to work with District 5 at that time.

August 2003 District and City met with personnel (career and Volunteers) to discuss Pros and Cons. The outcome was direction to work more closely together.

In November of 2005 discussions were held between The City and District #2 about consolidation and the direction that came from both the City Council and the Fire District Board of Commissioners was to begin engaging in joint programs. Three areas were identified at that time where both entities could benefit. These areas were EMS purchasing , Joint Training and mutual aid responses.

In August of 2007 Montesano brought District 2, 5, Aberdeen and Cosmopolis together to look at a possible Regional Fire Authority. This group met several times but the effort was abandoned. Fire District 2 continued to concentrate on consolidation with Montesano.

Efforts were begun in January of 2009 to form an RFA Planning Committee to explore moving ahead with the formation of a Regional Fire Authority consisting of The City of Montesano and Grays Harbor Fire District #2.