Lewis County Fire District 5 will host a grand opening for its new apparatus bay in Napavine, Washington, on Saturday, July 18, marking the completion of a project designed to improve firefighter safety and reduce emergency response times.
For decades, firefighters assigned to the Napavine station had to cross Washington Street to reach emergency vehicles housed in a separate building from their personnel quarters. The routine often meant waiting for a crossing signal, navigating traffic or walking over frozen ground before crews could respond.
The district said the arrangement could add seconds — and sometimes minutes — to response times. The new bay places apparatus within feet of the station, allowing crews to reach vehicles faster and more safely.
The project began after former Lewis County Fire District 5 Chief Dan Mahoney sought state funding for a new station roughly five years ago. Following a tour of the former 1970s-era apparatus bay, Washington state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, helped secure a $2 million appropriation.
Interim Fire Chief Gregg Peterson said the funding was not enough to build an entirely new fire station, so the state allowed the district to adjust the plan and construct a standalone apparatus bay about 4 feet from the existing station.
“So that way we’ve got an apparatus bay, and we got basically a residence here,” Peterson said.
Construction on the apparatus bay began in May 2025, and the building became operational on June 15. The grand opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 18 and will coincide with the Napavine Funtime Festival.
Built by MDK Construction, the facility includes three apparatus bays, a workout room, a gear room, medical storage, bathrooms and an air purification system.
The building also features four-fold electric doors instead of traditional rolling doors. Peterson said the old rolling doors required frequent repairs, while the new doors are designed for hundreds of thousands of cycles.
Additional response-time improvements are planned outside the building. Peterson said the district intends to install a strobe light that can be detected by the nearby traffic signal preemption system at Washington Street and Second Avenue.
Instead of rolling doors, the new building has four-fold electric doors. Peterson said the rolling doors at the old building were in constant need of repair.
The system is typically activated by emergency vehicle lights, helping provide first responders the right of way while allowing time for pedestrians to clear the crossing. Triggering the process earlier is expected to reduce delays, including those caused by semi trucks navigating the corner.
“I think we’ve thought about everything,” Peterson said.
Peterson is serving his fourth stint leading the Napavine-based department. His first began in 2014 after three decades as a professional firefighter in Auburn. He most recently returned to the role in October 2025 after Jonathan Beck’s contract was terminated without cause.
Peterson said he plans to retire in September, but further facility work is expected before then. The district also plans to add a modular home at Station 5-2 off Jackson Highway within the next two months.
The added housing is intended to support staffing when more personnel are on duty, allowing the district to deploy crews from another facility when needed.
