Whatcom County Fire District 14 received a water-filled Aqua Dam flood barrier to protect the Sumas Fire Station, following multiple Nooksack River floods in recent years. (Whatcom County Fire District 14)
SUMAS, Wash. — Whatcom County Fire District 14 has received a major boost in flood preparedness thanks to a new Sumas Fire Station flood barrier.
The district was gifted a 6-foot-diameter, 420-foot-long water-filled Aqua Dam flood-control barrier valued at $44,665. Crews can deploy the system around the Sumas Fire Station in about seven hours. Engineers designed the barrier to protect the station from up to 54 inches of floodwater.
Donation follows repeated Nooksack River flooding
The contribution comes after repeated flooding from the Nooksack River, including the December 2025 event that marked the fourth major flood in five years. District leaders say those floods have highlighted the need to protect critical response infrastructure.
“This donation allows us to protect the station and keep our units responding when the people we serve need us most,” Chief Jerry DeBruin said.
Faster recovery expected after future floods
Officials said the station could still become inaccessible during severe flooding. However, the barrier should limit damage and help crews restore service more quickly once waters recede.
District leaders thanked Aqua Dam Inc. for supporting community resilience and helping safeguard essential emergency-response infrastructure.
Gov. Bob Ferguson said last week the state is seeking $182.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“The flooding we experienced in December was historic, and it caused extensive damage to our infrastructure,” Ferguson said. “We need assistance from the federal government. We are confident that we have met the criteria and make a strong case to grant this vital assistance. I appreciate the bipartisan support we have received from legislative leaders and our Congressional delegation advocating for approval of this federal funding.”
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