Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue and South Whidbey Fire/EMS are exploring how increased collaboration between their two districts can continue to make operations more efficient, an ongoing effort that could lay the groundwork for a merger in the future.

Mergers are becoming increasingly common among fire districts, especially in Washington, and the possibility has been entertained on Whidbey. It’s “just what the industry has gone to,” Nick Walsh, fire chief at South Whidbey Fire/EMS, said.

Fire protection districts within “reasonable proximity” can merge or form regional fire authorities under Washington State law, specifically RCWs 52.06 and 52.26, although those may not be the only options for districts looking to combine. While mergers and regional fire authorities differ, their benefits and purposes are similar.

Merging is logical for districts seeking to improve service as call volume increases and funding decreases, explained Walsh. Merged districts may be able to put more firefighters on the scene of incidents faster than multiple separate districts.

South Whidbey Record – Metered site

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