Gardiner residents must await a decision by Clallam County Fire District 3’s board of commissioners whether to annex their area, a decision that might not come anytime soon.

"The fire district commissioners aren’t ready to make any decisions yet," said Fire District 3 Chief Steve Vogel.

"They have to look at their budgets and revenues. They are taking their time to educate themselves and make a decision."

A group of Gardiner residents petitioned the commissioners to switch from Jefferson County Fire District 5 to Clallam County Fire District 3.

Proponents said the switch would provide Gardiner residents with faster fire protection and emergency medical response thanks to the full-time Blyn station that opened in September 2008.

The fire district has an Aug. 1 deadline to adopt a resolution annexing the area for taxes to be collected in April 2010.

If the commissioners approve the resolution between Aug. 2, 2009, and Aug. 1, 2010, taxes would be collected starting in April 2011.

Clallam County Fire District 3 serves about 30,000 residents in 135 square miles from east of Deer Park Road to the Jefferson County line.

The area that would switch districts includes Precincts 101 and 102 and Precinct 103 where Craig Road runs off Chicken Coop Road.