‘Regional Fire Authority — explained’ topic of Feb. 3 Edmonds Civic Roundtable meeting

South County Fire crews responding to a fire at the St. Frances Motel on Edmonds’ Highway 99 in spring 2024. (Photo courtesy South County Fire)

Edmonds residents in April will be asked whether the city should join the South County Regional Fire Authority (RFA). During a Monday, Feb. 3 program at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, the non-partisan Edmonds Civic Roundtable will focus on this key decision, how we got here and what choices are there for the future.

The RFA and its predecessor Fire District 1 have provided fire and emergency (EMS) services in Edmonds, on contract, since 2010. However, the RFA exercised a two-year cancellation clause and that contract will expire at the end of this year. Now, the City of Edmonds is placing before voters a ballot measure that asks whether Edmonds should join the regional authority as a member, rather than as a contractor, joining cities such as Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Brier.

“This is a complex decision for the citizens of Edmonds, with implications not only for the level of fire and EMS services they receive, but also cost implications for the city budget and individual household budgets,“ said Gil Morgan, who chairs the Edmonds Civic Roundtable.

“Our goal is to provide accurate and unbiased information to allow our residents to make informed decisions,” Morgan said.

The program, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Center, 220 Railroad Ave., will include background on how Edmonds got to the point at which the city is faced with this decision. The ECR will summarize what benefits would occur by annexing with Regional Fire, as well as a report on what we currently know about what happens if voters reject the idea.

Following presentations, the audience will participate in table discussions in which participants can discuss what they heard and questions they have. Going forward, the roundtable said it will provide a list of other local community forums and available resources for residents to aid in gaining additional information in the coming months.

At the end of the program, others knowledgeable about this topic will be available to answer the questions informally. Also attending will be representatives of the Edmonds City Council who helped to negotiate the proposal and representatives of Regional Fire Authority.

There is no charge for attending the meeting. Attendees are asked to register in advance here as space will be limited.

  1. Edmonds is playing with fire. Literally and figuratively. Let’s learn from Los Angeles and not take fire departments for granted. People in Pacific Palisades also thought it could never happen there.

    1. Fires have occurred in that region multiple times, the only individuals who could not foresee this possibility were those overly preoccupied with DEI mythology. I agree that we shouldn’t overlook water in the fire hydrants.

    2. Paul, two questions:

      1. How does advocating local control have anything to do with taking fire departments for granted? (Seems like just the opposite to me).

      2. Do you honestly think we have the potential water supply problem here, which exacerbated the problems In Pacific Palisades? (They literally build their homes in the middle of dry brush fields created by Spring rains producing huge undergrowth, followed by annual fall drought which produces bone dry kindling).

  2. Will the ECR run this meeting as 100% transparent and balanced, allowing residents who oppose annexation equal time in commenting and asking their questions as is given to the Council, RFA and firefighters’ union to make their ‘pro’ annexation pitches. The State Public Disclosure Commission has guidelines for elected officials/meeting sponsors that require equal time for all parties to ‘educate’ voters by discussing all sides of the ‘pro’ and ‘con’ arguments. The ECR should ensure that the Mayor, Council and RFA answer questions that they have avoided over the last 8 months. Questions like why have RFA contract prices increased 50% between 2019 and 2023? Why will RFA annexation prices increase by 65% between 2024 and 2026? Why has the City not done due diligence on alternative fire/ems service solutions that could potentially save $$millions per year vs. RFA? Why did Fitch consultants not provide their 2023 report on Vancouver, WA that showed using private ambulance service (AMR) for EMS saves Vancouver taxpayers millions of dollars/year vs. a combined fire/ems service? Why did Fitch not report on the inherent value of Edmonds’ fire stations and RFA contract commitment to buy back its fire engines at market price? Why has the RFA not controlled costs with economies of scale? Why will Edmonds taxpayers be forced to pay another $960 in annual taxes for the same service?

  3. Does RFA perform routine Fire Hydrant checking and maintenance to insure that what happened in So Cal does NOT happen here?

    …just sayin’

    1. Hi Donald, I have seen Fire Hydrant testing done by our Public Works Department. I have also seen PW folks doing other testing work on the water system in general. SCF may do some work but your point is it should be done. The good news for Edmonds and South Snohomish county is we have water storage at higher elevations and as the old saying goes. Water Goes Downhill.

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