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Buckley fire chief urges full-time hires, council discusses public-safety sales tax and service alternatives
Summary
Buckley Fire Chief Scogin and city staff outlined rising call volume, volunteer turnover and staffing options; short-term measures include exploring a public-safety sales tax on next year's ballot, evaluating hiring one firefighter in 2026 (contingent on funding) and analyzing in-house BLS/ALS transport revenue scenarios.
Chief Scogin told the City Council that rising call volume and high volunteer turnover mean the department can no longer rely on long-tenured volunteers and must add paid staffing to maintain response times.
"The days of an individual serving 5, 10, 20, 25, 30 years and beyond, is over," Chief Scogin said, describing a volunteer pool that often leaves for full-time jobs elsewhere. He said the department has seen turnover concentrated in the second year of service, when volunteers become qualified to drive or staff an aid unit, and that hires from the paid market now often do not stay long.
City staff described a five-year strategic approach and several options for funding and service delivery. The…
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