Newly hired Ocean Shores Fire Chief David Bathke on Monday night was introduced to the City Council and the public, and he promptly was asked to wade into one of the city’s most emotional debates — whether it can fund and maintain a more comprehensive surf rescue response or staff a surf rescue team.
The issue has been magnified by four recent water emergencies, two of them fatal, and the fact the city disbanded its former surf rescue team in 2013 because of budget cutbacks, lack of funding and other issues such as liability protection.