07/22/2026
Information About Grays Harbor Fire District #10 – Wishkah Fire Department
Take a few moments to explore our infographic and learn more about Grays Harbor Fire District #10, our history, and the services we proudly provide to our community.
Our district began with a single fire station located next to Wishkah Valley School, where Station 10-1 stands today. In those early years, our response area extended from Turner Bridge north through the Wishkah Valley, while the Aberdeen Fire Department responded south of Turner Bridge. The original station consisted of a meeting room and a single apparatus bay.
As our community grew, so did the fire district. A second station, Station 10-2, was established to serve the East Hoquiam area from the Hoquiam city limits to near U.S. Highway 101. Later, residents of the former Fire District #9 requested annexation, expanding our coverage to include the area north of Bench Drive and East Wishkah Road to Turner Bridge. This growth led to the construction of Station 10-3 at the intersection of Aberdeen Gardens Road and Wishkah Road on property generously made available by local businessman Al Fredricks. As fire apparatus became larger, a new Station 10-3 was built across from Rainier Gardens Road to better accommodate modern emergency vehicles.
The district continued to expand through additional annexations, including the Junction City area, the Sierra Pacific Industries mill, portions of U.S. Highway 12 between Aberdeen and Central Park, and the Panhandle Road area near Hoquiam. Today, Grays Harbor Fire District #10 proudly protects approximately 70 square miles and serves thousands of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Grays Harbor County began taking shape in the early 1970s under the leadership of Dr. Juris Macs, whose vision helped establish the Grays Harbor Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Care Council. Prior to that, organized pre-hospital emergency care was extremely limited.
Former Fire Chief Bill Knannlein was among the county’s first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students, helping bring advanced emergency medical care to our district. Today, our firefighters continue that tradition by providing high-quality emergency medical services using modern equipment, evidence-based treatments, and continually evolving protocols.
Becoming an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or EMT requires approximately 140–160 hours of classroom and practical training, followed by continuing education throughout the year to maintain certification and proficiency.
The commitment to the fire service is equally demanding. Volunteer firefighters complete months of training to achieve certification, meeting the same professional standards expected throughout the fire service. Initial training often requires 4–6 months of evening and weekend instruction, followed by ongoing department training, monthly weekend drills, and emergency response—while balancing full-time careers and family responsibilities.
Our members volunteer countless hours to protect our communities because they believe in serving their neighbors. We are proud of our history, grateful for those who built this department before us, and committed to providing professional, compassionate, and dependable emergency services for generations to come.
If you are I nterested in becoming part of the Wishkah Fire Department team?
We are always looking for dedicated individuals who want to serve their neighbors and make a difference in our community. Whether you are interested in firefighting, emergency medical services, or supporting the department in other ways, we would like to hear from you.
Please contact us for more information about volunteer opportunities:
📧 [email protected]
📧 [email protected]
Grays Harbor Fire District #10 – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Since 1964.
