CAMANO ISLAND: Board of Fire Commissioners to meet on fire levy lid lift resolution (CIFR)
The Camano Island Fire & Rescue District posted this item in the news section of their website on May 25, 2023.
Community invited to learn more and provide comment
The Camano Island Fire & Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners will meet Monday, June 12, to discuss a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the November 7, 2023, general election ballot. The community is encouraged to attend the meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the Administration Building, 811 N. Sunrise Blvd.
Call volumes are up 28 percent since 2017 and overlapping calls are happening 20 percent of the time. Camano Fire responds to an average of 2,300 calls per year – of which 66 percent are for emergency medical service (EMS).
“We have just one paramedic per shift to provide the highest level of emergency care available pre-hospital,” Fire Chief Levon Yengoyan said. “We require additional personnel to help us keep up with the service level needs of our community.”
If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift will fund:
- Up to six additional firefighter/EMTs or firefighter/paramedics
- Another medic unit staffed by a second paramedic
- Renovation of the Mabana station to allow for 24-hour staffing
These improvements will reduce response times and improve service reliability across the island.
Camano Fire is asking voters to change the fire levy from $0.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.25. The $0.42 lid lift would cost an additional $17.50 per month or $210 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.
Find more information about Camano Island Fire & Rescue at www.camanofire.com. Chief Yengoyan also welcomes your questions at info@camanofire.com or 360-387-1512.
