Firefighting agencies around Washington state met in Tumwater to try and come up with ways to react faster, and in closer coordination, when battling the state’s growing wildfire problem. “We know we don’t have the full equipment, the capacity to be able to fight the fires we’re seeing today,” said Hilary Franz, Washington’s lands commissioner heading the state’s largest firefighting agency, the Department of Natural Resources.
- PUB DATE: 2/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5

Tacoma first responders are tackling the heroin crisis in a new way. The Tacoma Fire Department is one of the first departments in the state to start giving out rescue kits with Narcan to overdose patients When Tacoma first responders answer a life or death overdose call, they carry Narcan—the drug that reverses the effects of the overdose.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 11:35:02 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

In one day, 53 firefighters packed up two fire houses and left behind the stations they knew and loved. That day, Jan. 23, Vancouver’s two new fire stations were deemed complete — complete enough, anyway, to unlock the doors and put the state-of-the-art facilities into service. “It’s definitely still a work in progress,” said Vancouver firefighter and paramedic Pete Adams.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 9:53:25 PM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian

A legal dispute over staffing at the Everett Fire Department has been moved to the state Court of Appeals. The city of Everett is asking the court to overturn a decision by a state labor board. In October, the board ruled that the city can’t set minimum firefighter staffing levels without negotiating the numbers with the union.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 9:08:07 AM - SOURCE: Everett Herald

The possible annexation of the city of Port Townsend into Jefferson County Fire District 1 for firefighting and emergency medical services would result in higher taxes – somewhere between a low of $32 and a high of $205 a year on a $300,000 home in Port Townsend. City Manager David Timmons said that the amount of the tax increases depends on what the community and City Council decide to do with levy funds, such as possible improvements to housing infrastructure, streets or parks.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Port Townsend Leader