Today marks the 10-year anniversary of Renton Regional Fire Authority. To celebrate, we wanted to look back at where it all began and the incredible progress we’ve achieved through your support.
THE EARLY DAYS
Ten years ago, the Renton community voted in favor of creating a special purpose district known as Renton Regional Fire Authority (Renton Fire—that’s us!). The intent of creating the fire authority was to ensure the adequate, reliable funding necessary to build on the foundation of high-quality fire and life safety services in Renton. On July 1, 2016, Renton Fire began operations as an independent agency.
FROM THE GROUND UP
While Renton Fire had operated as a well-established department of the City of Renton for decades, transitioning to a standalone agency meant many aspects of the organization needed to be built from scratch. In the first several years of operation, we created divisions, sections, and brought on new personnel to help support our firefighters, community, and mission.
In our Administration Division, sections were created to manage functions previously handled by city departments, such as Finance, Human Resources, Planning, Communications, and IT. With direct and enhanced funding, we developed award-winning teams and implemented cutting-edge technology throughout the organization, validating the trust placed on us by Renton voters.
Another key area of early investment was the Office of the Fire Marshal. Since becoming an independent agency, the Office of the Fire Marshal has grown. Personnel were added to ensure timely, consistent fire inspections and compliance for local businesses. A public education section was created to provide critical safety education to community members, institutions, and businesses across a range of areas. Over time, services provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal have expanded to reach even more people within our jurisdiction.
PROMISES FULFILLED
In addition to expanding services to the community, one of the promises made when forming Renton Fire as a regional fire authority was that a new fire station would be constructed in the Kennydale area. When the vote passed, with strong support from our partners at the City of Renton, this project began immediately.
By early 2018, our Support Services division led the station’s groundbreaking ceremony, kicking off a whirlwind of construction. Under their supervision, in just under a year, the team also led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the official completion of Renton’s brand-new Fire Station 15. This state-of-the-art station set the standard for local fire facilities and will continue to serve the community for decades.
PEOPLE-FIRST PROGRAMS
With our major divisions established, and a new facility constructed, we turned our attention to our programs. A program known as FD CARES (Fire Department Community Assistance, Referrals, and Education Services) was launched, aimed at reducing low-acuity patient reliance on the 9-1-1 system by connecting them with the professionals and resources needed to live longer, healthier lives.
Like FD CARES, many other programs were developed in partnership with local agencies to enhance services to the Renton community while leveraging existing resources and best practices. Renton Fire joined forces with agencies throughout King County to develop South King CPR & First Aid—a collaborative and cost-effective training program; Zone 3 PIOs—a zone-wide communications group created to deliver critical, real-time information to the public during significant incidents; and WA Fire Careers—a hiring group designed to simplify the complex process of becoming a firefighter, making it more accessible for more people.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
These developments and others led to one of the most exciting early markers of improvement. The Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB) protection class rating indicates a community’s fire protection capabilities, with 1 representing the highest level of protection, and 10 indicating significant deficiencies. These ratings factor into important determinations, such as insurance premiums.
In 2018, Renton’s WSRB protection class rating improved from Class 3 to Class 2, with an official rating of 1.96. The WSRB system rounds all ratings up to the nearest whole number.
In 2024, the WSRB re-evaluated Renton’s protection class, and the agency saw significant improvement once again. Renton’s score improved by nearly a full point, going from a 1.96 to a 1.06 – nearing the highest possible rating. Because of the WSRB rounding system, Renton remains a Class 2 rating. There is only one agency in Washington State with a protection class rating of 1, and we aim to be the second.
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PLANNING
Renton Fire has always been committed to responding to the needs of our community. Early on, we enlisted the help of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) to provide the framework needed to build on that commitment. In 2022, we focused on achieving agency accreditation with CPSE’s Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) – a self-assessment program dedicated to helping fire agencies achieve excellence in continuous improvement and service delivery.
This prestigious accreditation is held by fewer than 400 agencies worldwide and sets the standard for fire and life safety services.
We also adopted our first formal strategic plan in 2020, with a term of 2021-2025. While the plan outlined broad goals for the organization, we came to realize it lacked focus and measurable outcomes. We sought to improve it, partnering again with the Center for Public Safety Excellence to embark on a community-driven strategic plan that focused on the items most important to our community. We developed clear and measurable objectives. And we did so a year ahead of schedule, adopting the new plan in 2024 cover the period of 2025-2029.
While the updated strategic plan helps us navigate a clear and intentional path toward the objectives most important to our community, accreditation helps us continually improve the processes and daily operations necessary to make that journey efficient. In 2024, Renton Fire achieved Agency Accreditation Status with CFAI, and we continue to use that framework to maintain it today.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
There are many exciting developments on the horizon for Renton Fire and the communities we serve. Right now, construction on Fire Station 16 is well under way. Foundations have been poured and beams are beginning to take the shape of a state-of-the-art fire station. By early 2027, the new station will be ready to serve the Renton Highlands community and beyond.
A strategic fleet replacement schedule is a key part of our planning process. This year, Renton will receive three new fire engines, replacing aging rigs at Stations 11, 12, and 13. Station 12 will also receive a new water rescue boat. In 2028, you will see two new ladder trucks on the road, ready to serve our growing community needs.
THANK YOU, RENTON
We recognize that none of this would have been possible without our amazing community. Everything we’ve accomplished over the last ten years is a direct reflection of your support. Our firefighters and civilian staff have been able to do impactful, life-saving work over the last decade because of you. From everyone here at Renton Fire, thank you.
