CENTRAL WHIDBEY: In Our Opinion: Fire levy lid lift is an investment in safety (WNT)

The Whidbey News-Times published an editorial on Oct. 18, 2023 recommending voters approve the fire district’s levy lid lift.

Central Whidbey voters should continue their strong support of their fire district.

The days are gone when a rural fire district can depend wholly on volunteers to pull their boots on in the middle of the night and respond to a fire, car crash or heart attack. Fire departments across the nation are struggling to recruit new firefighters; many have blamed stricter training requirements, the economy, inflexible jobs and changing family dynamics for the dearth of volunteers.

As a result, rural departments across the nation are moving toward staffing a higher proportion of full-time paid firefighters and EMTs.

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue is no different. A proposed levy lid lift on the November ballot would address staffing shortages by hiring four full-time employees.

On the Ballot in November 2023