YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima Fire Department (YFD) is calling on residents to voice their concerns over a recently failed levy and staffing reductions at Station 92.
The proposal would have funded the station with a property tax increase, but voters rejected the levy during the general election.
YFD stressed how understaffing could delay crucial CPR and defibrillation during cardiac arrests.
Statistics from the Red Cross reveal that survival chances from cardiac arrest drop by 10% for every minute CPR and AED use is delayed. Immediate CPR and AED can triple survival chances, reinforcing the need for a fully staffed fire department.
In 2025, the YFD responded to 172 CPR incidents, averaging one every two days, with a 21% save rate.
If Station 92 closes, Engine 93, the second busiest engine at YFD, will cover most of its area. If Engine 93 is occupied, the next closest engine will be from the Airport Station. If both are busy, engines from either Mel’s Diner or the fairgrounds will respond.
Residents near 96th Avenue and Tieton can expect response times to increase from three minutes to 11 minutes, a 366% increase. Those near 80th and Zier will see a rise from three minutes to 12 minutes, a 400% increase. Near Appletree, response times will go from seven minutes to 12 minutes, a 171% increase, YFD said.
With the station facing the possibility of closure, YFD urges the public to participate in an upcoming meeting to help save Station 92 and protect the city’s emergency response capabilities.
A call to action and public comment session is set for 5:00 p.m., January 6, 2026, at Yakima City Hall.
