South Whidbey Fire/EMS hired three new staff members in January by configuring its team to be more cost effective and efficient.
The department filled one vacancy and created two new positions, bringing in-house critical services it historically contracted to outside vendors, the department explained in a press release.
Filling the new positions are Michael Hastings, an IT support technician, and Alex Carlson, a fire mechanic. The vacant position of maintenance technician is filled by Jake Grevé. All three are South Whidbey residents.
“We’re ecstatic to find such talented local residents to put in these positions,” Deputy Chief of Resources Jon Beck said.
“Bringing these critical services in-house is already saving us down time and money,” he said. “We literally put them to work on New Year’s Day. Nothing has slowed down since then.”
Quality technology systems have never been as essential, nor demanding, as they are today for first responders.