The Issaquah City Council passed a resolution at its Oct. 7 meeting to pay its “fair share” to acquire Eastside Fire and Rescue station number 83 should Sammamish decide to withdraw from EFR.

Station 83, the closest station to Klahanie, is owned by the city of Sammamish. Fire District 10, which serves areas of unincorporated King County, already had adopted a resolution indicating its desire to acquire station 83 if Sammamish were to withdraw from EFR at the end of 2014 when the inter-local agreement expires.

EFR deputy chief Greg Tryon said the fire district recognizes Klahanie as part of its protection area. He said 30 to 40 percent of District 10, which Klahanie is currently part of, is served by station 83.

Council member Joe Forkner said Sammamish could pull out of EFR regardless of how the vote to annex the Klahanie area shakes out. The public has been told that nothing would change with regard to fire protection should the annexation pass. Council member Paul Winterstein called the resolution a proactive move. Of particular concern was Providence Point, where the population is primarily those 55 and over. Station 83 is the closest station to Providence Point.

King County Fire Protection District 10, along with Fire District 38, Issaquah, North Bend, and Sammamish, are partners of Eastside Fire & Rescue, which serves 120,000 people, covering nearly 200 square miles in Northeast King County.