Date:                     July 16, 2021

Contacts:             Catherine Breault, PIO Woodinville Fire & Rescue

425-483-4481 (O) | 425-471-9407 (M) | cbreault@wf-r.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eastside Fire & Rescue Votes to Approve Contract for Service for Woodinville Fire & Rescue

The ten-year contract for service will begin in October and is expected to decrease costs to taxpayers.

WOODINVILLE, Wash., July 16, 2021 – On Thursday, July 15, the Eastside Fire & Rescue Board of Directors voted to approve a contract for service with Woodinville Fire & Rescue. Over the past year, WF&R’s Board of Commissioners has been exploring partnership opportunities in the region and approved the contract for service at their July 13 meeting.

“This agreement ensures the same exceptional level of service to the residents of our fire district while creating cost savings for our District taxpayers,” said Woodinville’s Fire Chief Gregory Ahearn.

The vote approves a ten-year agreement with Eastside Fire & Rescue for fire and emergency medical services. WF&R will continue to be a Fire District with locally elected fire commissioners and will continue to retain some capital assets. Residents in the District will not see a change in service or 911 response. Additionally, the current WF&R stations will remain open and fully staffed. The services agreement will increase resources and training opportunities available to firefighters from both agencies.

“I firmly believe regionalization and consolidation is the best option for long-term fiscal responsibility and fire service sustainably in our region,” said WF&R Fire Commissioner Mike Millman. “As a board, we are always looking for the best way to serve our residents. We believe this contract does just that.”

The contract won’t result in any firefighter job loss and is expected to begin October 1, 2021.

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Woodinville Fire & Rescue provides fire and emergency medical services to approximately 37,000 people over 30 square miles. Its emergency call volumes average 4,000 a year.