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Anacortes public safety committee reports plan to buy two medic units, addresses EMT vacancies
Summary
The Public Safety Committee reported it plans to purchase two medic units (one funded this year by the EMS levy, another in 2026), discussed current EMT vacancies and the decision to buy rather than lease power-load equipment.
The Public Safety Committee reported May 12 that the city will purchase two medic units, with one purchase funded by the EMS levy this year and a second planned for 2026. The committee also reported two EMT vacancies and ongoing interviews, and that the new medic units are expected for delivery in late 2025 or early 2026.
"We are going to be purchasing 2 medic units, 1 using the EMS levee and then 1 the following this following year in 2026," a Public Safety Committee report to council said. Committee members noted the bid for medic units did not include power-loading equipment (the mechanical lift that loads a gurney into the ambulance); staff said they will purchase power loads rather than lease them after comparing costs and expected service life.
The committee also described outreach about a potential regional training center to consolidate training for fire, police and 911 dispatch to save costs; staff said conversations with other jurisdictions are beginning. Councilmembers and staff who attended a recent Fire-Rescue training exercise in Boise described the physical and emotional demands of firefighting and thanked department personnel for the training opportunity.
No formal council action was recorded on these items; the presentation was a committee report and staff said interviews to fill EMT vacancies are underway and procurement planning for the medic units will continue.
