Fire District 13 commissioners take step to upgrade fleet

Fire District 13 Chief Wood Weiss got the green light on Thursday to commit up to $700,000 toward purchase of a Pierce tender truck that would bolster an aging District 13 emergency response fleet.

District commissioners authorized Weiss to pursue acquisition of a new tender shortly after approving a preliminary 2025 draft budget that projects a fund reserve exceeding $1 million.

“That sounds like a lot of money, until you have to buy some equipment,” commission Chair Bruce Shellhamer cautioned when referring to the seven-figure bank balance.

Turns out, the district needs three new rigs.

The commission, citing revenue forecasts of $1.9 million and expenses of $1.8 million, settled on the tender because of its versatility. It can transport water and a variety of gear, including hard suction hoses and portable pumps.

Weiss said a tender costs $660,000 to $680,000.

“This would be the biggest expenditure of my life, including my house,” Weiss said. “It’s no small thing. I’m conservative. This district is conservative. But we’ve been kicking this can down the road for a long time. We have to start putting money into our apparatus.”

Pierce builds its vehicles in Florida. If the district does purchase a new tender, it likely won’t roll out until mid-year 2025.

“The good news is we wouldn’t have to pay for it until then,” Weiss said.

Shellhamer said the district could secure a loan as a backup plan.

“This is the right way to go at this time,” Battalion Chief Jami Jurdi said. “It’s an all-purpose vehicle. It’s versatile.”

The commission endorsed the purchase during a 90-minute meeting in which district crews answered a call, indicative of a busy year so far for FD 13. Weiss anticipates the district’s 2024 call total will approach 1,400 even as the proactive CARES unit has significantly reduced 911 responses.

Weiss and training officer Chris Olbu offered positive reports on the twice-weekly day shifts at Summit Park, which have cut response times at the district’s north end by an average of six minutes per call.

“Six minutes makes a huge difference,” Weiss said. “In a fire, after six minutes, it can really start ripping.”

Weiss said his preference is to ultimately assign additional personnel to Summit Park.

“We’re going to try to move forward and add two more people to Summit Park, to cover the area every day,” he said. “That’s our goal.”

Shellhamer commended district officers and secretary Tracy Berg for their work on the 2025 budget plan, praising how line items were thoughtfully crafted.

Shellhamer pointed out that 83% through the year the district has realized 93% of its anticipated income. Expenses are at 82.42%, he said.

“So,” said Shellhamer, “we’re within 0.58 % of a projection that was made a year ago.”

Commissioner John Doyle, a former La Conner town administrator, agreed.

“Those are amazing projections,” Doyle said. “It’s quite remarkable.”

District officials would like nothing better than for a repeat performance in the year ahead, though fiscal conditions by all accounts have been more challenging.

“This was probably our hardest budget season, what with inflation and supply chains,” said Shellhamer. “That really pinches things. It’s a challenge. So this has been a real process.”

Capt. Gary Ladd offered more good news on the financial front. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Emergency Management Department has obtained a $50,000 grant to upgrade solarization at the district’s Snee-Oosh Road station.

Ladd said the grant award will cover 12 additional solar rooftop panels, an improved inverter/charger system and new lithium storage batteries.

Ladd also suggested the Starlink satellite communications system as a solution to potential losses of cell phone and internet services at the Snee-Oosh station during natural disasters. He cited Starlink’s effectiveness during responses to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Ladd shared an emergency communications committee recommendation that a policy be adopted requiring district officers to obtain HAM radio licenses.

Capt. Ted Taylor, fondly dubbed “Capt. Catastrophe,” gave two thumbs up to the recent Swinomish Emergency Preparedness Fair. Taylor said area residents must remain vigilant when it comes to preparing for emergency and disaster scenarios such as volcanic eruptions.

“We’re in a seismically sensitive area,” Taylor said. “Mount Baker still sits there stewing, waiting to do its thing.”