Community Police & Fire
Fire district headquarters building flooded following November storm
Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One is looking for a temporary home for its administrative and leadership staff after a tree fell on its Bujacich Road headquarters building during a wind storm in early November.
The tree poked a hole in the building’s roof and punctured its sprinkler system, GHFMO public information officer Tina Curran said. Flooding caused extensive damage to the building.
A tree damaged Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One’s headquarters building on Bujacich Road in November, puncturing a sprinkler system and causing extensive flooding. Photo courtesy Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One
Response not impacted
The problem at the headquarters building did not impact fire district operations or response. But about 18 fire district employees — including command staff, administrative assistants, payroll and training staff — will need to find a new home before repairs can begin.
For now, they’re working in a part of the building that sustained minimal damage. But when repair work begins, that won’t be a good option.
GHFMO Prevention Division Chief Tom Wescott said moving administrative staff to a fire station isn’t a good option. Stations aren’t set up for the sort of work the headquarters building is, and most stations are already at capacity with firefighting staff.
A tree damaged Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One’s headquarters building on Bujacich Road in November, puncturing a sprinkler system and causing extensive flooding. Photo courtesy Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One
‘Significant damage’
Contractors told the fire district repairs could take up to a year.
“There are going to need to be some significant repairs,” Curran said. “We incurred some horrific flooding. … Water is the great equalizer, it pretty much went everywhere.”
The district is working to identify a temporary space for its front-office staff.
In the meantime, Curran asked people who need non-emergency help from Gig Harbor Fire — for instance, registering for CPR classes or obtaining a new address sign — to call them at (253) 851-3111 instead of dropping by the Bujacich Road building.