Career firefighters return to renovated Malaga station

MALAGA — Career firefighters have returned to Malaga’s Station 17 following a combined investment of approximately $3 million from Microsoft and the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department.

Community members, first responders and regional leaders gathered Sept. 17 to celebrate the station’s reopening following a $1.5 million renovation by the fire department. Microsoft is providing an additional $1.5 million over three years to support three career firefighters at the station.

The staffing agreement, reached in November 2024, continues through Dec. 31, 2027.

“Microsoft invested in people, Wenatchee Valley Fire Department invested in the station,” Fire Chief Jon Perry said. “And together, we invested in Malaga.”

Station 17 previously housed career firefighters through a 10-year agreement with Chelan County. In 2019, the department moved those crews to the newly constructed Station 13 on Squilchuck Road, where call volume was greater, leaving Malaga once again primarily dependent on volunteer firefighters.

Perry emphasized that the return of career staffing does not replace the volunteers who have continued serving the community.

He pointed to a recent wildland fire outside the Colockum area, where a volunteer firefighter with an apparatus strategically stationed at his home arrived several minutes before other responding crews.

“We are building upon the foundation that they helped create for us,” Perry said.

The renovated station can now accommodate modern fire apparatus and the needs of crews assigned there. Perry said placing firefighters and equipment in Malaga will shorten response times for medical emergencies, structure fires, vehicle collisions and wildland fires.

“When you need us, help is closer and faster to respond to you,” Perry said. “In our profession, minutes do matter.”

Perry credited former Chief Brian Brett with recognizing the importance of restoring career staffing in Malaga and helping establish the relationships that made the agreement possible.

Brett, who served eight years as chief and spent more than 30 years in local firefighting, retired earlier this year and is now running for Chelan County auditor.

“Much of what we are celebrating today began before my arrival,” Perry said. “As current fire chief, I have the privilege of standing here today and seeing the results of that work.”

He also recognized Microsoft representatives Anne Hessburg and Lisa Karstetter for helping move the partnership from an initial idea to completion.

Hessburg is Microsoft’s land development and permitting program manager and also serves on the Leavenworth City Council and Link Transit board.

“Projects like this don’t just happen,” Perry said. “They require people who are willing to build relationships, work through challenges and stay committed to a common goal.”

Microsoft has also donated $25,000 to the Wildfire Community Foundation of North Central Washington, which assists individuals and families affected by wildfires.

The Station 17 reopening was celebrated alongside the opening and continued development of Microsoft’s Malaga data center campus. Tours of the renovated station were followed by a guided visit to the data center construction site.

“Today is a great day for Station 17, a great day for Wenatchee Valley Fire Department and, most importantly, a great day for the Malaga community,” Perry said.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media