Availability of firefighters has become a critical need for South Whidbey Fire/EMS staff, according to fire district officials.
To meet needs, the fire district is asking voters to approve a levy lid lift of 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value during the August primary.
If approved, the lid lift would increase from 65 to 95 cents and go into effect in spring 2021. Levy backers said the increase would help replace outdated equipment and hire eight full-time firefighters cross-trained as EMTs. According to a press release, the fire district, which relies heavily on volunteers, lost six volunteers because they or a family member are considered a high-risk population due to COVID-19.
“Most fire districts have paid firefighters on call 24/7, but we don’t,” said Fire Chief Rusty Palmer said.
“We want our community to understand that call volumes have increased to such a point where we need full-time staffing.”