South King Fire’s journey began on April 18, 1949, with one fire engine and a small group of volunteers. Over the years, we expanded through mergers with five neighboring fire districts. Today, South King Fire has seven fire stations and more than 150 firefighters serving a growing population beyond 150,000 citizens.
We were known for many years as District 39 or the Federal Way Fire Department. In 1991, the City of Federal Way annexed District 39, allowing us to maintain our status as an independent fire district. In 2006, we merged with Des Moines Fire District 26, adopting the name “South King Fire & Rescue,” which in 2023 was simplified to South King Fire. We’re honored to be serving these great communities and invite you to commemorate this significant milestone with us at upcoming open houses later this year.