A potential merger between the Burien/Normandy Park and North Highline fire departments remains in limbo as the North Highline unincorporated area awaits the outcome of the ongoing annexation process.

Either Burien or Seattle eventually could annex North Highline. While no vote is on the table at this time, the annexation process has been in the works for some time.

Commissioners from both King County Fire District 2 (Burien/Normandy Park) and Fire District 11 (North Highline) in recent years conducted a feasibility study to determine if it would be in the best interest of both departments to merge.

The study determined that a merger would benefit to fire districts. Only the possibility of annexation-and whether Burien or Seattle annexes North Highline-is keeping the merger from occurring.

Annexation of North Highline by Seattle would make the merger unlikely, since the Seattle Fire Department then would serve the unincorporated area.

But annexation by Burien would all but guarantee the merger.

Currently the North Highline Fire District provides 31 percent of the fire and emergency medical coverage for the city of Burien by contract.

Scott LaVielle, chief of the North Highline Fire Department, said in a recent interview that North Highline voters also have a third choice-not annexing to either city and remaining their own entity. While that is an option, King County would like to see North Highline annexed by either city by 2012.

There is also a possibility that Seattle could annex part of North Highline, while Burien could annex another part.

Both Seattle and Burien could take action requiring a vote in the unincorporated area on whether North Highline should be annexed by either city, but only one city can propose the vote at any given time.

It is currently unclear which, if either, city will act first.

One thing is certain-with annexation by either city in the hands of the voters, so is the merger.

"This community in North Highline loves their fire department. That is probably one of the only things that belongs to them," LaVielle said.

He noted that it is up to the voters to decide which city can provide them with better services, and encouraged citizens to do their homework and find out what they want.

"As a chief I don't think it is my position to tell them what to do," LaVielle said.

Annexation by Burien and a merger of the two fire districts would also bring back the possibility of a subsequent merger with South King Fire and Rescue.

Fire Districts 26 (Des Moines) and 39 (Federal Way) merged to form South King Fire and Rescue two years ago.

District 2 and District 11 earlier had discussed a possible merger of all four fire districts.

This merger would be a possibility only if Seattle does not annex North Highline.

"Until then [an annexation decision], we sit and wait, continue to do business, and continue to protect our citizens," LaVielle declared.