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History

2008 - Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue was awarded a $107,190 FEMA Fire Act Grant for Air Ventilation/Exhaust Removal Systems. This grant will provide the Exhaust Removal Systems in our apparatus bays at four of our fire stations (St 21, 22, 23 & 24). Diesel exhaust was building up in our fire stations and was causing concern of potential health issues for our employees, members and the public. The remedy to this issue, to protect our personnel and the public, was to install the exhaust removal air purification systems at the stations effected by this issue and use it on a daily basis. This entire project was completed in 2009.

2007 - Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue was awarded a grant for $67,000 from Cowlitz County for Title III Funds. This grant money will be utilized to prepare, implement and evaluate the "Emergency Services Awareness Program" AKA ESAP. This will be completed in three phases. Phase I will last approximately three months and will be the planning phase. We will prepare program and materials for this program. Phase II will last for about seven months and we will hire a temporary three-person crew to implement the program created in Phase I. Phase III will last about three months and will be the evaluation period. Our focus will be on the property and homes that are located in "No Man's Land" which is an area that is outside of a Fire District in Cowlitz County and does not have fire or emergency services protection. Our goal is to get the word out to our target audience and educate them on the issue and provide them with options to correct this. This is a serious issue for us and the surrounding fire districts in Cowlitz County and we feel fortunate that the grant money was awarded to us.

2007 - In November, the residents served by Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue approved a 6 year Lid Lift Levy which is not a new tax, but rather restores the regular fire levy to $1.50 per $1,000 and sets a new limit on annual increases of no more than 3% per year (except for newly constructed buildings).  This reduces the rate for the citizens we protect in 2008 by $.06 per $1,000. This levy will expire after 6 years if it is not renewed by the voters. The EMS Maintenance & Operations Levy that was passed by voters in 2004 (see below for those details) will not be collected for the last year due to the successful passing of this levy.

2004 - Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue was awarded a grant for $271,000 from the Department of Homeland Security. This grant money is earmarked for updating our self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which is used when our firefighters enter smoky and burning buildings. Our current SCBA equipment is outdated and no longer meets the federal standards. This was a serious issue for us and we were fortunate that the grant money was awarded to us.

2004 - In November, the residents served by Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue approved a 4 year Maintenance & Operations Levy of $.20 per $1,000 assessed value. A 60% super majority "yes" vote is required in order for the levy to pass. 64.50% voted "yes" and 35.50% voted "no".

2003 - In November, the residents of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue rejected a 10 year EMS Levy of $.50 per $1,000 assessed value. A 60% super majority "yes" vote is required in order for the levy to pass. 51.85% voted "yes" and 48.15% voted "no".

2001 - Dave LaFave was promoted to Fire Chief by the Board of Commissioners on March 14, 2001. On July 1 of the same year, Longview Fire Department & Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue officially dissolved their administrative merger and are now two separate entities. However, we do contract for certain services to provide the best response time and care to the citizens of the Longview & Kelso areas.

2000 - Dave LaFave was appointed as the Interim Fire Chief for Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue in November of this year.

1998 - Chief Joe Valenzuela retired. On August 16, Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue officially merged administratively and became "Longview/Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue".

1996 - "The Great Flood of 96" - Approximately 450 people were sheltered by American Red Cross. Evacuations and about 40 slides were reported as well. The damage was assessed at $6,565,119.

1993 - Burlington Railroad Train Derailment occurred near I-5, mile post 34.8

1989 - In February, the residents of the District and City of Kelso approved the ballot measure to increase the Board of Commissioners from three members to five.

1988 - The November ballot measure to increase the number of members on the Board of Commissioners passed with 64% in favor. However, it did not appear on the ballot for the City of Kelso and was declared invalid.

1985 - Wagner Road area of Rose Valley was annexed. The City of Kelso was annexed by a favorable vote of residents of both the city and district. A new Headquarters Station was built at 701 Vine Street in Kelso. On December 1, 1985, Fire District #2 began providing fire protection for the City of Kelso with the District's first full-time firefighters.

1982 - Levy restored to $1.00 per thousand.

1979 - Tax levy passed for $1.00 per thousand.

1978 - Lexington Station was built at 1796 West Side Highway in Kelso.

1974 - Bunker Hill Station was built at 113 Bunker Hill Road in Longview.

1973 - Areas of Ostrander and Mt. Brynion were annexed. Bunker Hill, Germany Creek, Mill Creek and Abernathy Creek areas were annexed up to the county line.

1967 - Rose Valley Station was built at 1436 Rose Valley Road in Kelso.

1966 - Holcomb Acres, Rose Valley, Mt. Pleasant and Carrolls were annexed by petition. Areas of Clark Creek and Columbia Heights were annexed by petition.

1965 - Baker's Corner Station was built at 5699 Ocean Beach Highway in Longview.

1964 - Coal Creek/Willow Grove areas were annexed by a favorable vote.

1956 - Columbia Heights Station was built at 922 Nevada Drive in Longview, the first station in the District.

1947 - Cowlitz County Rural Fire Protection District #2 was created by a special election held on Saturday, December 6, 1947.

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701 Vine Street * Kelso WA 98626 * 360.578.5218
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