PORT TOWNSEND — The boundary dividing two Jefferson County fire districts zigzags through Jefferson County International Airport, dividing some of the airport’s buildings.
It is a situation that Fire Districts 1 and 6 and Port of Port Townsend officials have to work out, but officials doubt it will affect fire protection as it now exists.
“Half of the hangars are split half and half,” Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Larry Crockett said, comparing the boundary with political gerrymandering in the Old South.
The issue somewhat amused Port of Port Townsend commissioners, who discussed it last week during a Port meeting at the Point Hudson Marina meeting room.
The Port owns the airport.
“The district’s boundaries for 6 and 1 bisect the airport almost in half . . . and that’s the big issue,” Crockett said.
Officials estimate that the Port pays about $3,000 a year for airport fire protection.
“If they want to share it 50-50 that’s fine, but I’m not going to pay them any more money,” Crockett said.