Fire Departments discuss merger

Residents interested in learning the details of the future merger between the Edgewood Fire Department and East Pierce Fire and Rescue District  are invited to attend an informational community forum on Jan. 9 from 7-9 p.m. at the Edgewood Fire Station.

Guest speakers include Edgewood Fire Chief Ed Goodlet and East Pierce Fire Chief Jerry E. Thorson, who will share the details of the proposed merger.    

“As our community needs increase, it is imperative we pursue opportunities to meet those needs,” Goodlet said. “This merger will provide the best option to better serve this community.”

Goodlet explained that the number of emergency calls has jumped by 82 percent from 2003 to 2008. The majority of the increase is in 911 calls for emergency medical services (EMS). According to the fire department, EMS calls in 2003 totaled 401. By 2008, they had more than doubled to 811.

Edgewood Fire Department currently provides basic emergency medical aid, but patients with critical medical emergencies must wait for private ambulance services or mutual aid from neighboring fire departments, such as East Pierce Fire and Rescue and Puyallup Fire Department for more serious, advanced medical aid and transportation to hospitals.

Under the terms of the merger, the number of firefighters on duty at the Edgewood station will increase from two or three per shift to four or five. In addition, Edgewood residents would receive a benefit offered to all residents in the East Pierce Fire and Rescue District – ambulance transport services from the fire department with no out-of-pocket costs to the patient.

To help recover operational costs such as staffing, equipment and medical supplies, East Pierce bills insurance companies and Medicare. Resi-dents who are not covered by insurance are not charged. However, those who live outside the district boundaries are billed for ambu-

lance sevrices. The no out-of-pocket expense for an

ambulance ride applies only to fire department transports.

“The merger would mean we would have a full-time

medic unit staffed with firefighter/paramedics who can respond quickly from our fire station when someone in our district is sick or injured,” Goodlet explained.

The Edgewood Fire Department took the first step in merging with East Pierce Fire and Rescue District when its commissioners signed an administrative services agreement with the district. The agreement provides for the “exchange of services” at no cost to either of the entities.

On Dec. 8, the Edgewood Fire Commission unanimously agreed to ask for a public vote on the issue. The merger will appear on the Feb. 9, 2010 mail-in ballot. A simple majority will be required for the proposition to pass.

If the Edgewood voters choose to merge with East Pierce, the board of fire commissioners for both districts would need to pass a resolution to authorize the merger. “If everything falls into place, it could be official as early as March 1,” Goodlet said.

Since the East Pierce Fire and Rescue District  was formed in 2000, the Bonney Lake Fire Department, Lake Tapps Fire, Pierce County Fire District 24, South Prairie, Sumner and surrounding areas in Pierce County have voted to merge within the district. East Pierce currently serves a population of more than 75,000 residents within approximately 142 square miles and shares a long border with Edgewood near State Route 167.

Goodlet noted that the firefighters from Edgewood and East Pierce both support a merger.

“East Pierce and Edgewood have formed a solid relationship over the past several years,” he said. “We work well together. When we need help, they send units here and when they need help we send units there.”

For more information, call (253) 927-2313. The Edgewood Fire Station is located at 10105 24th St. E.

Commenting rules