Ocean Shores fire chief outlines training, support services and staffing challenges
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Summary
The fire chief told the public safety committee the department will host monthly community training classes, expand chaplain/support services to three trained staff, add several volunteers, and is pursuing a satellite paramedic program after a recent paramedic resignation.
The Ocean Shores fire chief told the Public Safety Committee on Dec. 16 that the department will start monthly community classes, expand post‑incident support services, and is working to shore up emergency medical staffing after a recent resignation.
"Avert is gonna start doing monthly classes at the fire department," the fire chief said, describing a planned series that will include CPR and emergency‑preparedness instruction and sign-up at ghavert.org. He said the sessions will be hosted at the fire department and provide times and registration information.
The chief described a retooled chaplain program now called "support services," saying the department grew from one chaplain, "Larry Bridal," to three trained support‑service personnel. "We're kinda leaning towards calling it support services because we want these people to know that it's not just religious based," he said, and described their role as providing resources and trauma support after incidents, and as a resource for staff.
Staffing updates: the chief said four new volunteers (partly paid) will enter training next month — three into the Fire Academy and one into EMT training — but noted the Fire Academy and EMT classes run concurrently, which delays some trainees' progress. He reported one paramedic resigned last week to take a job with Thurston County EMS and described a national shortage of paramedics. Two career members are currently enrolled in paramedic school, and the department is pursuing discussions with Tacoma Community College about a satellite paramedic program at Grays Harbor Community College to improve local recruitment and retention for Ocean Shores.
Moderator and council members asked briefly about recruiting additional EMS personnel; officials acknowledged staffing remains a significant challenge. Moderator also noted the city is in active union negotiations with the fire department; multiple meetings have occurred and more are scheduled.
The committee record shows these items as reports and discussion; no formal votes or new policy adoptions were recorded during the session.