Ahead of wildfire season, Snohomish County Fire District 22 in Getchell, is offering to pay big money to hire more firefighters.
The department will pay $5,000 in signing bonuses to experienced part-time firefighters who get hired.
“We needed to think outside the box and say, ‘what can we provide that provides a little bit extra draw?’” said Assistant Chief Jeremy Stocker. No fire agency in Snohomish County has ever offered such large incentives before.
It comes as retirements and intense competition for hires has gradually decreased the number of firefighters at Getchell Fire.
In 2008, 50 firefighters were based out of the department. Now, it’s half that.