Fire service consolidation is not new to the Pacific Northwest.
From Clackamas County, Oregon, where rural fire districts began merging in the 1970s, to Los Angeles County, California, which created a consolidated fire protection district as far back as 1949, communities have long looked for ways to share resources, improve emergency response and reduce duplication of services and overall cost.
Now, the Chehalis Fire Department and Lewis County Fire District 5 and District 6 are beginning their own process. The three agencies have agreed to establish a joint committee that will research and develop a draft interlocal agreement (ILA) for functional consolidation of operations, for the city council and boards of fire commissioners to consider.
Unlike a full merger, a functional consolidation allows departments to coordinate staffing, training, equipment and response planning while still maintaining their own elected officials, budget and identities.
This step will give us a chance to “test drive” operating together before pursuing any deeper structural changes.
Our goal is to explore whether working more closely together can improve services to the public. This is about cooperation, better community service, improved public safety and firefighter safety.
Examples across the region highlight both challenges and benefits.
In Washington state, Centralia and Lewis County Fire District 12 entered a functional consolidation, later creating the Riverside Fire Authority in 2008.
Whatcom Fire and Rescue was created in 2006 when two fire districts merged, later joining in a functional consolidation with another agency.
More recently, voters approved a merger of Graham Fire and Rescue and Orting Valley Fire into Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, eliminating district boundaries to create a single regional department.
By forming a planning committee now, the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 5 and District 6 are taking a cautious but forward-looking step.
The chiefs and elected officials emphasize that any eventual agreement will focus on stronger service, more efficient use of resources and maintaining accountability to the communities each department serves.
We encourage members of the public to contact your fire chiefs for information regarding the facts about the exploration of operational consolidation and the impacts it will have on the community.
Chehalis Fire Chief Adam Fulbright
afulbright@ci.chehalis.wa.us
Lewis County Fire District 5 Chief Jon Beck
chief@napavinefire.com
Lewis County Fire District 6 Jerry Cole
jcole@lcfd6.org
