Two Snohomish County fire commissioners apologized Friday night for making racially insensitive comments when they joked about hiring “cheaper” Mexican laborers for a paramedic position. But an attempt to impose disciplinary action failed on a 2-2 tie vote by the commissioners for Fire District 1. Commissioner Jim Kenny asked that the two board members, David Chan and Bob Meador, receive a written reprimand.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times

The new year has brought positive changes to the La Conner Fire Department, including an improved fire protection rating that will lower fire insurance rates for residential and commercial properties. The department recently received an audit from the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau that evaluated the department’s fire protection capabilities.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2017 4:12:13 AM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com)

It wasn't the wake up call that Mike and Rebecca Jolstead were expecting seven months ago on a warm August night. "I woke up sometime around 2 a.m. and just felt a really large contraction and my water broke," Rebecca remembers. That's when Mike started to make the calls to family, letting them know that baby Madison was on her way into the world two weeks early, but the next call was to 911.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2017 7:46:37 PM - SOURCE: KHQ-TV NBC 6

Snohomish County Fire District 7 Commissioner Guy Palumbo has resigned from his position on District 7’s Board of Fire Commissioners. Palumbo was recently elected to the Washington State Senate, and although his desire was to finish the rest of his term as a Fire Commissioner, his primary focus is now on his new duties as a Senator, said District 7 spokeswoman Heather Chadwick.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2017 10:19:14 AM - SOURCE: Sky Valley Chronicle

Fire damaged one half of a duplex early Friday in Vancouver’s Hough neighborhood, according to the Vancouver Fire Department. The fire was reported at 2:25 a.m. at 1013 W. 24th St., according to dispatch records. Vancouver firefighter Joe Spatz said the first crews arriving reported fire coming through a front window of the single-story duplex.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2017 8:00:15 AM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian