The city of Spokane gave layoff notices to more than half of its fire dispatchers Tuesday after many of the fire departments it provides services for said they would switch to a new emergency communications center.
City spokeswoman Marlene Feist said the city once contracted with other fire departments across the area for emergency communications, but those fire departments have said they will now be working with the new Spokane Regional Emergency Communications Center instead.
Once operations begin at the new dispatch center on July 1, the city will only need eight of its 18 fire dispatchers.
Bryan Collins, chairman of the SREC Board and Spokane Valley Fire Department chief, said the regional center offered those employees similar positions at the new center.
If the city of Spokane agrees to join SREC, Collins said dispatchers would be paid the same hourly wage.