Two Skagit County fire districts are proposing a merger that would form a regional fire authority — the first of its kind in the county.
Skagit County fire districts 4 and 9, which cover Big Lake and Clear Lake, respectively, are proposing a merger that would see the two districts become Lakeside Fire and Rescue.
“RFAs (regional fire authorities) are a good way to combine resources (and) manpower,” said Brett Berg, who serves as chief for both districts. “It will save money in the long run.” If approved, the RFA will formalize a partnership that already exists between the districts, Berg said.
In 2008, Berg, who was serving as chief for the Big Lake district, took the reins of the Clear Lake district as well. Since then, Berg and employees from both districts have gotten the two districts working, training and responding together.