Information on South King Fire and Rescue’s Proposition 1 can be found on page 102 of the King County voter’s pamphlet.

The statement in opposition, written by Jerry Galland and Matthew Jarvis, lists the reasons voters should reject the proposition. The problem is, the statement is full of misleading statements and factual errors.

The opposition states, “This tax increase has nothing to do with your safety or the safety of our emergency responders.” Wrong. The proposition is to provide facility and station improvements, technology infrastructure, replace support vehicles and medical aid cars and to replace fire engines and a ladder truck that are well past their age and mileage as first line response vehicles as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. Some are past the recommended age and mileage for “reserve” status recommended by the association.

A portion of the statement reads, “letting things deteriorate enough that you will agree to give them even more money.” Do you really believe that the administration and the commissioners are so callous that they would intentionally allow their equipment to deteriorate, putting both firefighters and the public at risk?

The statement also quotes Commissioner Mark Freitas, “We have good firefighters, good equipment, good service …” Good firefighters and good service, yes. Good equipment, no.

South King Fire doesn’t send multiple fire trucks to first aid calls, as alleged in the opposition statement. The district dispatches equipment based on the information from the 911 call.

The opposition statement also alleges that the district will buy “$1 million custom industrial response fire trucks instead of low cost, fuel efficient residential response vehicles.”

In the 1990s, fire engines and ladder trucks cost $200,000 and $500,000 respectively. Today those same vehicles cost $500,000 and $1 million. Fire engines and fire trucks are not cheap, or low cost. They are expensive but fire departments minimize the costs by buying in conjunction with each other whenever possible to keep the costs as low as possible.

The statement in opposition doesn’t say equipment and station upgrades aren’t needed.

The bond measure is necessary to provide you, the citizens serviced by South King Fire and Rescue, with the resources you deserve to protect life and property.

The district distributed a flyer to the community clearly explaining where the needs are and where the money will be spent. You can also find the information at www.southkingfire.org

Please vote yes on Proposition 1.

Scott Dornan, Federal Way