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History Time Line for Cowlitz-Skamania Fire District #7

09/1975    A petition was signed by the voters to form a Cougar-area Fire District.

03/1976    A special election was held for the formation of the Fire District. It did not pass, the requirement of 60% of the people that voted in the last election was not met. Although the levy failed, the commissioners were elected.
Travis Bennet, George Ham, and Jack Kelley held the first offices.

11/1976    The second election for the formation passed.

01/1977    The official beginning of Cowlitz County Fire Protection District #7. The members called themselves the “Yale Valley Fire Department”. The District’s west boundary was at Speelyai Bay Road. The east boundary was the Cowlitz/Skamania Border.
        The first officers were:    Secretary - Konny Martin
                          Assistant Chief - Clarence “Rocky” Meyers
                                                    Chief - Mike Livingston

1980        We joined the Volunteer Firefighters Relief and Pension fund.

1982        Station #1, our first station, was built at 11670 Lewis River Road. Prior to this, equipment was kept at private homes, and in a single garage in Cougar owned by the Lewis River Telephone Company.

1984        Station #2 was built in Cougar at 16728 Lewis River Road.

1986        The area from Speelyai Bay Road to mile post 42.5 on Hwy 503 was petitioned for annexation.

1987        The current west end of our District, was annexed into the District.

1989        Station #3 was built in the new annexed area at 8020 Lewis River Road.

1996        Our Fire District, North Country EMS, and PacifiCorp worked together to put Station #4 in at the intersection of Yale Bridge Road, Cresap Bay Road, and Frasier Road: 1258 Yale Bridge Road. One of the houses that was located at PacifiCorp's Yale Village was moved to the site for North Country EMS to use, and a three bay garage was constructed to house two District #7 fire apparatus and one North Country EMS vehicle.

1996        We purchased a one year old demo unit from The Mallory Company; Squad 71, for fire and medical response.

1998        The area in Skamania County, from the Cowlitz/Skamania border to mile post 5 on the USFS Road 90, and the same distance east on the USFS 10 road on the south side of Swift reservoir, was annexed into the District.

10/1998    The District’s name was changed to “Cowlitz-Skamania County Fire Protection District #7".

2001        Three truck bays and a new training room were added to Station #1.

2001        A 2000 Freightliner, our first new fire truck, was purchased - Engine 71.

2004        A 2004 Ford F350 was purchased and made into Rescue 71.

2005        The District’s first paid person was hired, part time Chief, Gary Stuart

2005        A 1994 truck was purchased, and a 3500 gallon tank was mounted on it to become Tender 73.

2005        The District’s legal name was shortened to “Cowlitz-Skamania Fire District #7"

2006        We purchased a 2001 truck and had a 3500 gallon tank mounted on it to become Tender72

2007        The District received a grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FEMA) for $226.000 for all new SCBA, and a compressor to refill them.

2007        We purchased a new 2007 Freightliner Engine - Engine 73

2008        A 2008 Ford F150 crew cab was purchased for personnel transport.

2008        A newly purchased 1987 American General truck was outfitted to be Brush 71

2008        Squad 71's slip-in-unit was upgraded to the latest CAFS model.

2010        The District's Fire Protection Rating was reduced from a 9 to an 8.

2010        A third truck bay was added to Station #2 in Cougar.

03/2011   Chief Gary Stuart was changed from part-time to full-time.