Regional fire district reports staffing stability, cultural training with Stillaguamish tribe and equipment delays

Dave, reporting for North County Regional Fire, said the district completed cultural training sessions with the Stillaguamish Tribe for multiple shifts and described a wide payroll review dating back to the 2000 merger that the department is wrapping up with help from accounting firm Baker Tilly. He said a nonrepresented compensation study will conclude in about eight weeks and that two retirements are anticipated in 2026; staff have made two conditional job offers to backfill those positions in the academy class that begins in February.

Dave said two new fire engines are on order but that supply-chain delays push delivery toward 2027–28; the district continues to purchase one to two EMS units annually. For Arlington specifically, stations 46 and 48 handled 2,198 calls in the quarter with 624 transports to regional hospitals; Dave said turnout and response times continue to meet standards.

He invited council and staff to the annual Santa run (Dec. 9) and asked for volunteers. The update was informational and generated questions about staffing and nonrepresented-worker counts (Dave said 11 nonrepresented employees).