Bald Hills Fire Department

==About==
Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 17 operates as the Bald Hills Fire Department.
==Area Served==
Bald Hills Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical services to the approximately 4,200 residents within the department’s 70 square mile service area located in the southeastern part of Thurston County, notably home to the Deschutes Falls park.
===Interlocal Agreements===
Bald Hills Fire Department is part of a countywide mutual aid agreement which all Fire & EMS agencies within Thurston County are members of. The agreement, which is renewed every 5 years allows any Fire & EMS agency to request aid from any other Fire & EMS agency for the purpose of dealing with large fires or other emergencies.Thurston County Auditor's Office (2005). Interlocal Agreement For Mutual Aid For Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (File #3734453). Recorded May 25, 2005. EagleWeb.
==Department Profile==
Bald Hills Fire Department is staffed by around 35 volunteer members. The department operates from 2 stations.
=== Fleet ===
Currently, the Bald Hills Fire Department fleet consists of:
* 2 Engines
* 2 Tenders
* 3 Brush Units
* 2 Aid Units
* 2 Utilities
* 1 Command Unit
* 1 Rescue
* 1 Support Unit
==History==
On September 16th, 1975, a Special Election was held to determine if Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 17 should be formed. The votes were cast in favor of forming the district, with 27 votes in favor of and 2 votes against the formation of the district. The district was formed effective on October 2nd, 1975. Soon after it's formation, the new Board of Fire Commissioners for the district placed a measure on the November 4th, 1975 General Election Ballot with the proposal of issuing bonds to fund the construction of a fire station and acquisition of fire apparatus. The measure was approved with 46 "yes" votes and 9 "no" votes. 
===1994 Fire Apparatus Purchase Bonds===
In 1994, the Board of Fire Commissioners submitted a ballot title to the Thurston County Auditor to have a special election on November 8th to be held in conjunction with the county general election. The special election made the proposition of $384,000 in General Obligation bonds being issued to pay for firefighting equipment and apparatus.Thurston County Auditor's Office (1994). November 8th, 1994 General Election Voters Pamphlet (Page 10). Thurston County Election Archive. The proposition was approved by voters, with 215 "yes" votes and 143 "no" votes.Thurston County Auditor's Office (1994). November 8th, 1994 General Election Results. Thurston County Election Archive. Soon after, a 1995 Freightliner / Central States engine was purchased.
===S.E. Thurston Fire & EMS===
Bald Hills Fire Department was formerly part of S.E. Thurston Fire & EMS from January 1st, 2004 to June of 2007. 
=== Annexations===
Year	Area(s) 	Area (mi2)	Area (acres)	Notes
1987	Driftwood Valley	0.278 	178 acres 	Annexed by petition, signed by 23 of the 32 registered voters in the area, with the reason being that the area was served Yelm Fire District 2 would have to cross through Bald Hills' service area to serve the Driftwood Valley Area. Annexation finalized on June 31st, 1987.
2021	Clearwood
Bald Hills	0.161 	103.19 acres	Annexed by petition, finalized on May 11th, 2021.Board of County Commissioners (2021). Resolution #16017. Laserfiche Weblink.
FD17 1987 Annexation Area.jpg|1987 Annexation Area 
===Fire Stations===
Station Number	Station Name 	Address 	In Service 	Notes
17-1 	Bald Hills 	16306 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm 	1976-Present	Built in 1976 following the acquisition of land from the Lackamas Community Club through a quitclaim deed made effective on 12/15/1975.Thurston County Auditor's Office (1975). Quitclaim Deed (File #953433). Dec. 15, 1975.
17-2 	Cougar Mountian	17701 Lawrence Lake Road SE, Yelm	1989-Present	A live fire training center was added behind the station in 2013-2014. A house next to the station was purchased on 9/30/2015Thurston County Assessor's Office. Parcel #22634220000 Report. Accessed Aug. 23, 2023. to house resident volunteers to staff the station.
== Apparatus Roster==
===Fire Station 17-1 (Headquarters) - 16306 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm===
Built 1976 / Volunteer Resident
:Engine 17-1 - 1995 Freightliner FL 70 / Central States (1500 top-mount/1000)
:Tender 17-1 - 2011 Kenworth T370 / Fouts Bros (500/3000)
:Brush 17-1 - 1993 Ford F-350 4x4 / General Fire Apparatus (150/250) (WA#04746C)
:Brush 17-3 - 1993 Ford F-350 4x4 / General Fire Apparatus (150/250) (WA#04744C)
:Aid 17-1 - 2007 Ford E-450 / North Star (Ex-Thurston County Medic One)
:Utility 17-1 - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4
:Command 17-1 - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (Ex-Lacey Fire District 3)
:Support 17 - 2008 Workhorse W42 / Utilimaster (VIN#5B4KPD25183434674)
:Air 17 - 1992 Wells Cargo / Cascade Air (Ex-Graham Fire & Rescue (Washington))
Bald Hills Fire Department Station 17-2.jpg|Fire Station 17-1
Bald Hills Fire Department 1995 Freightliner FL70 Engine 171.jpg|Engine 17-1
Bald Hills Fire Department Chevrolet Tahoe.jpg|Command 17-1
Bald Hills Fire Department 1993 Ford F350 Brush 171.jpg|Brush 17-1
Bald Hills Fire Department 2007 Ford E450 Aid 171.jpg|Aid 17-1
52773755963 eedac5af26 o.jpg|Air 17
52773756113 729f48c1f1 o.jpg|Support 17
===Fire Station 17-2 - 17701 Lawrence Lake Road SE, Yelm===
Built 1989 / Volunteer Resident
:Engine 17-2 - 1989 Pierce Lance (1500 top-mount/750) (SN#E5163) (Ex-Lacey Fire District 3)
:Tender 17-2 - 2001 Freightliner M915A2 6x6 / 2015 Randco Tanks elliptical (500/3000)
:Aid 17-2 - 1995 Ford E-350 / AEV
:Utility 17-2 - 1999 Ford Explorer 4x4 (Ex-Battalion 17-1)
:Rescue 17-2 - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4
:Brush 17-4 - 2004 Ford F-350 4x4 / Fast Attack (?/? skid)
Bald Hills Fire Department Fire Station 17-2.jpg|Fire Station 17-2
Bald Hills Fire Department 1989 Pierce Lance Engine E17-2.jpg|Engine 17-2
Bald Hills Fire Department Freightliner M915 Tender 172.jpg|Tender 17-2
Aid 17-2.jpg|Aid 17-2
52773690045 348f9b8303 o.jpg|Utility 17-2
Bald Hills Fire District Brush 17-4.jpg|Brush 17-4
===Under Construction=== 
:Engine 17-1 - 2023 Freightliner M2-106 / Rosenbauer R-Series (1500/1000) (SN#18626) 
:*Planned to be placed in service sometime during the summer.
:2004 GMC Yukon XL 4x4 Ex-(Lacey Fire District 3)
==Retired Apparatus== 
: 1994 Ford F-350 4x4 crew cab Type VI brush (?/? skid) (Ex-Brush 17-2)
:1993 Ford F-350 4x4 / General Fire Apparatus Type VI brush (150/250) (Ex-Rescue 17-1)
:199? Jeep Cherokee XJ (Ex-Command 17-1)
:1986 Kenworth / FMC pumper (1250/1000) (SN#5176)
:1985 GMC Brigadier 6x4 / General Fire Apparatus elliptical tanker (500/2500) (Ex-Tender 17-2, ex-Tender 22, ex-Tender 17-1)
:198? Ford Crown Victoria (Ex-Command 17-1)
:1972 Ford LN900 / Western States pumper (1000 front-mount/1300) (SN#573) (Ex-Engine 17-3) (Ex-East Olympia Fire District 6, purchased 2007)
:1967 Jeep 4x4 ambulance (Sold 1989)
:1956 GMC 450 6x4 / Roney tanker (750 front-mount/2000) (Ex-Tender 17-1) (Ex-Lacey Fire District 3, purchased 9/25/1975)
:1949 Ford tanker (?/1500) (Sold 1989)
==External Links == 
*Bald Hills Fire Department
*Bald Hills Fire Department Facebook page
*Bald Hills Fire Apparatus Page (2014)
==References==
==Station Map==
Category:Thurston County, Washington
Category:Washington departments operating Central States apparatus
Category:Washington departments operating Fouts Brothers apparatus
Category:Washington departments operating General Fire Apparatus
Category:Washington departments operating Pierce apparatus
Category:Departments operating Randco Tanks apparatus
Category:Former operators of Western States apparatus