Fire Station 28, the San de Fuca station, has been deactivated as a cost-saving measure by North Whidbey Fire and Rescue.

Built by volunteer labor in 1961, the station is one of the oldest in the district.

The station was scheduled for major refurbishing and upgrading but due to the failure of the levy lift lid proposal last year, the district has no money available for the project.

At Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting, Fire Chief Marv Koorn said Station 28 is no longer being used as a response station.

“We have moved the equipment we had stored there to other stations and the building has been deactivated,” he said.

In another cost-saving measure, the district has taken Marine Unit 21 out of service.

“The boat is in need of major repairs that we don’t have the funds for, so we will put it in storage at the San de Fuca station,” Koorn said.

The district still has its other marine unit in service for water rescue situations and the Island County Sheriff’s Office also has a boat, although Sheriff Mark Brown does not have the personnel available to man it at this time.

Koorn sent a letter to the Island County Board of Commissioners in

January stating the district can no longer be the first responders in water rescue situations without being compensated.

Koorn said he has not received any comment from the county board.

Fire district Chairman Larry Morse directed Koorn to contact the board in person to determine what is the response to the compensation proposal.