Company Profile

Company Overview

The Shoreline Fire Department is a professional, all-hazards fire and emergency services organization in northern King County, Washington. The Department protects roughly 25 square miles and serves more than 100,000 residents across the cities of Shoreline, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and the Town of Woodway. Governed by an elected ten-member Board of Fire Commissioners, the Department operates as a Regional Fire Authority (RFA), with a 2026 budget of $59.4 million and staffing of 188 FTEs. In 2025, personnel responded to nearly 16,000 calls for service.

Originally established in 1939 as King County Fire District No. 4, the Shoreline Fire Department has served the Shoreline community for over 80 years, with the addition of the Town of Woodway in 2014. In 2022, Shoreline Fire contracted with the Northshore Fire Department to provide administrative and operational support to the cities of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. In 2025, voters approved the formation of a
Regional Fire Authority, marking a major step toward full-service consolidation and continued growth across the region.

Headquartered at Station 61 in Shoreline, the Department responds 24/7 from five stations across four rotating shifts, with a minimum of 34 personnel per shift. Led by Fire Chief Matt Cowan, staffing is organized across three divisions: Administration, Operations, and Support Services.