SUNSET BIBLE CHURCH BUYS WEST PIERCE FIRE STATION #32

University Place, Washington, Aug. 15, 2014 – Sunset Bible Church of University Place has purchased West Pierce Fire Station #32 located at 7909 40^th Street West. The sale closed on August 15, 2014. Sunset Bible Church has been in University Place since 1971 and has held services at Narrows View Intermediate School for the past nine years after outgrowing their current worship building. The fire station will serve as a temporary meeting location, allowing continued growth while the church progresses toward a newly constructed building on their current property at the corner of 44^th and Sunset Drive. The church’s long-term plan is to utilize the fire station as a youth and family services center, benefitting the local community. The eventual center will be a prime location for services provided by the church and partnering organizations including other churches, family services providers, and local nonprofits. Sunset Bible’s Senior Pastor, Jay Mosser, states, “We have seen the potential of this property for many years. Its location and layout would work incredibly well for a youth and family center, and I believe that such a resource would fill a big gap in our city. While we are very glad to have this as a temporary home to address some of our immediate needs, we are thrilled at the potential this site has for the long-term good of our community.” Refitting the building for church services will begin immediately, and a move-in date targeting the beginning of January 2015 is currently planned. The new location will allow Sunset Bible Church to provide additional service times and expanded children’s programs. Sunset Bible Church plans to have an open house for the community prior to moving in. Station #32 was placed on the market following the merger of the University Place and Lakewood Fire Departments into the West Pierce Fire & Rescue. The sale will help fund a new station to provide additional coverage for West Pierce’s service area. West Pierce has already closed the station, and transitioned its personnel and equipment to other stations prior to the sale closing.