PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue has moved its administrative headquarters — without the use of a moving van.
The agency, which has occupied the building at 40 Seton Road since 2009, moved across the parking lot to 24 Seton Road, the former site of H2Out.
The move more than doubled the administrative space from 1,200 square feet to 2,800 square feet.
“We outgrew the space. Things were stuffed everywhere, and it was a nonprofessional environment,” said Chief Gordon Pomeroy as he settled into the new location Friday.
“We didn’t have any place to have a private conversation.
“There aren’t many secrets in this office, but there are some dialogues that you don’t want everyone to hear.”
The new office gives Pomeroy and Deputy Chiefs Ted Krysinski and Brian Tracer their own workspace, as well as a conference room and an accessible place for department records that were previously stored in the basement of one of the volunteer fire stations.
“The new space will make the department more effective and sometimes more efficient,” Pomeroy said.
“Everyone has space to do what they need to do. We can review plans and have conferences.”
The department had abandoned plans to build new administration buildings as part of the new Chimacum station and at 35 Critter Lane due to increasing construction costs.
The decision to lease the space turned out to be preferable, with the department committing to five years at $2,200 per month, up from $1,500 a month at the previous location.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue employs 30 career firefighters, with 14 of those certified as paramedics.
Additionally, 10 resident volunteers and 16 volunteers supplement the staff.
The department has six engines, two tenders, seven ambulances, two utility vehicles, two brush trucks and five staff vehicles.
It responded to nearly 4,000 calls in 2014, Pomeroy said.
The next priority is to build a structure to protect equipment, with Critter Lane as the most likely location.
Pomeroy, 65, said he is committed to serving through 2016 and that a succession plan is in progress.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.