Bond: Capital Facilities Projects

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Training Campus

A state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing Gig Harbor firefighters for every emergency they’ll face in our community.

ABOUT THE FACILITY

For years, Gig Harbor firefighters traveled to facilities outside the district to complete required live-fire training — adding travel time, overtime costs, and scheduling challenges while taking crews away from our community.

The Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Training Campus changes that. This state-of-the-art facility gives our firefighters a safe, realistic, local place to build the experience and confidence they need before those skills are called upon in someone’s home, business, or apartment building.

Regular opportunities to train in realistic fire conditions help firefighters stay sharp, work as a cohesive team, and respond with the speed and precision our community deserves.

HOW IT WAS FUNDED

Made possible by Gig Harbor voters, who approved an $80 million facilities bond in August 2022 with more than 66% support. The bond also funds the replacement of Station 51 and improvements to Stations 53, 57, 58, and 59. The vision dates back to 2009 — confirmed as a top District priority in the 2021 Capital Facilities Plan and brought to life by the community’s support.

TRAINING TOWER
17,051 sq ft | 5 Stories with Daylight Basement

The five-story training tower is designed to replicate the types of emergencies our firefighters respond to every day, incorporating both residential and commercial building scenarios.

Features include:

  • Live-fire burn props: garage storage, car fire (portable), kitchen stove, sectional sofa, and interior flashover
  • Wet and dry standpipes for hose operations
  • Collapse floor prop
  • SCBA confidence course areas
  • Multiple anchor points for technical rope rescue drills

TRAINING SUPPORT BUILDING
11,866 sq ft | 2 Stories

The support building serves as the operational heart of the campus, providing everything needed to run realistic, multi-crew training days.

  • Four offices and a meeting room
  • Dirty classroom (1,180 sq ft) for post-incident debriefs and hands-on instruction
  • Two additional classrooms on the second floor (1,167 sq ft combined)
  • Decontamination facility with gear extractor and gear dryer
  • Dedicated bunker gear storage room
  • Locker rooms with showers
  • Apparatus bay (5,152 sq ft) with three pull-through bays and one back-in bay
  • SCBA compressor and vehicle exhaust system
GRAND OPENING: JUNE 24, 2026 | 3pm-6pm

Date: June 24, 3036
Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: 10302 Bujacich Road NW | Gig Harbor, WA

Event Parking Map: Linked Here

TRAINING CAMPUS PHOTOS | JUNE 2026
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Station 51 - Reconstruction Updates
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rendering drawing of the new station 51
Image of a group of people standing around excavator prior to the demolition of station 51, bottom image is of station 51 after demolition with the excavators working

We were on site this morning (February 2, 2026) as the first swing of the excavator marked the beginning of a new chapter for Station 51. Deputy Chief of Capital Bond and Special Projects John Johnson had the honor of making the first strike, followed closely by Fire Chief Dennis Doan.

Station 51 will be rebuilt as a modern, two-story, 20,740-square-foot facility designed to support our firefighters and serve the growing needs of the Gig Harbor community for decades to come.

This project is funded by the 2022 voter-approved capital bond and would not be possible without the continued support of our community. Thank you for investing in public safety and the future of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One.

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One continues to make progress on projects funded by the 2022 voter-approved capital bond.  Beginning the week of September 8, 2025, Station 51 (6711 Kimball Drive) will temporarily close to allow for demolition and reconstruction.

The project is expected to take approximately 18-24 months to complete. The result will be a modern, two-story, 20,740 square-foot facility designed to meet the growing needs of the Gig Harbor community for decades to come.

Station 51: Then and Now

Built in 1979, the current Station 51 is a single-story, 12,000-square-foot building that has undergone only minor remodels over the years, the most recent in 2000.  The new Station 51 has been designed with future growth and safety in mind, featuring:

  • Three large pull-through apparatus bays for both current and future apparatus deployment.
  • Two smaller bays for command vehicles.
  • A dedicated decontamination facility and proper storage for structural firefighting gear.
  • Compliance with the new Washington State energy code, including solar panels.
  • Updated technology throughout the station.
  • Dormitory space with capacity for up to 11 personnel.
  • A fire service-themed park plaza welcoming residents and visitors.
  • A fire pole for quick access from the second floor to the apparatus bays.


Maintaining Service During Construction

During construction, resources will be strategically re-located to ensure continued emergency coverage across the fire district:

  • Engine 51 will relocate to Station 53 at 906 Kamus Dr (Fox Island). The three-person crew will operate as Engine 53.
  • Medic 51 will relocate to Station 52 at 2217 Pt. Fosdick Dr. The two-person crew will operate as Medic 52.
  • Battalion 51 will relocate to Station 56 at 5210 144th St NW. The single-person crew will continue to operate as Battalion 51. 
  • To facilitate better overall coverage for the fire district during the Station 51 temporary closure, Engine 56 will relocate from 5210 144th St NW to Station 57 at 10521 Crescent Valley Dr NW. This three-person crew will operate as Engine 57.


A Commitment to Public Safety

“This project represents a major investment in public safety,” said Fire Chief Dennis Doan. “The new Station 51 will provide improved facilities and resources for our crews and the community we serve.”

Additional Bond Projects & Status
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Rendering of the new training and support staff facilities.
Rendering of the new training and support staff facilities.

Both Station 53 and Station 57 have now been upgraded with important health and safety improvements. Each station now features dedicated decontamination areas equipped with bunker gear extractors and dryers, along with separate locker spaces for storing bunker gear away from the apparatus bays. These changes help reduce carcinogen exposure and support a healthier work environment for our crews.

In addition, both stations have been updated to meet current ADA requirements and seismic safety standards. Each station also gained an additional dorm room to better accommodate our personnel.

Image of front of station 53 on fox island

News
Documents & Resources
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The bond will fund the construction of a fire training facility on land owned by the Fire District adjacent to Station 58 (Swede Hill).

Renovations of Stations 53 (Fox Island), 57 (Crescent Valley), 58 (Swede Hill) and 59 (Artondale) will also take place. Some do not meet ADA requirements or current seismic standards. They also lack living quarters to accommodate current and projected staffing levels, and a diverse work force.

Station 51 in Gig Harbor, the district’s busiest station, will be replaced at the same location to accommodate additional personnel and modern emergency apparatus.

Decontamination areas at stations will be improved to remove carcinogens and toxic chemicals from fire and medical calls. Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and decontamination areas provide a healthier work environment for emergency personnel.

The bond will last for 20 years and is projected to cost $9.90 per month for the owner of a $500,000 home.  The district will begin collecting the tax revenue in January 2023.

Thank you again for your support.

Click here to view the S&P Bond Rating

Click here to view the Bond Election Certificate 2022.

Click here to view the 2022 Northwest Municipal Advisor letter.

Click here or the image below to view the most recent project schedule.

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