AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Excited cheers and clapping filled the room on Tuesday as Airway Heights’ fire chief used a pair of huge scissors to cut the red ribbon for the city’s new public safety campus.
The ceremony celebrated the support of voters that approved an $8,000,000 bond to purchase and renovate the building, all toward the goal of improving public safety. The campus will be home to Airway Heights fire, police and city hall.
“As I was preparing this little speech, I didn’t even know about the balloon arch, but I thought it felt like I was getting ready for the Oscars,” Airway Heights Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said.
Cracking a few jokes, Metzger spoke to his fellow first responders, city leaders, and to those who live in Airway Heights, as the large group celebrated a new beginning. Since the start of 2022, replacing the department’s existing fire station, and adding additional resources for public safety and service, has been in the works – voters approved the decision with very little opposition across the city.
District legislators secured a state grant of $1.3 million for the project.
“Most importantly I want to thank the citizens of Airway Heights for supporting public safety and the safety of our future,” Metzger said.
For years, Metzger and his team have been responding out of a very small fire station and with the huge increase in calls, at 172% over the last ten years, the city’s need has outgrown the station’s size and resource availability.
“We can’t keep up anymore in the facility that we’re in,” Metzger said.
Among the fire fighters, police officers, city council members and more, was Mable Dunbar. She’s the CEO of the local nonprofit, WHEN – Women’s Healing Empowerment Network.
“Our focus is really to stop the cycle of abuse,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar lives just outside of town but serves those in need across Airway Heights, helping them on a personal level. For 15 years, she and her team have developed WHEN and have also created a local food bank.
Dunbar said she agrees with city leaders when they say this new public safety campus will improve public safety in Airway Heights.
“It will make more people come and get the help that they need,” she said. “And when you think about the fact that people will come and have their social services met here, that’s just wonderful.”
Construction is set to begin in May of 2024, forecasted to be completed by May of 2025.
“This community is really on the rise and I’m just excited to be a part of it,” Dunbar said.
