Combining the fire departments of Woodinville, Shoreline and Northshore is still a possibility — an option that the Northshore Fire Department board of commissioners approve exploring.
At a recent gathering on June 4 the topic of regionalization was brought before the board again. During a commissioner meeting in May, firefighter union leaders expressed that the option should be explored.
And again Anders Hansson, president of Northshore’s union IAFF Local 2459, returned to communicate that action should be taken on setting the plan in motion.
“Labor does not believe we need more analysis and studies, enough of those have already been done,” Hansson said. “It’s time to stop trying to find reasons why regionalization does not make sense and instead identify all the reasons regionalization not only adds operational and administrative efficiency (but also) improves service to our citizens.”
Now is the time, he said, for the chiefs and labor to work together to demonstrate “how and why regionalization makes sense.”