OAK HARBOR: Fire Chief Advises Council on the Future of Emergency Services

The City of Oak Harbor posted this in the news section of their website on Thu., Mar. 27, 2025.

Oak Harbor, WA – March 27, 2025 – The Oak Harbor Fire Department is advocating for an upgrade to its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide more essential care to the community. Fire Chief Anderson presented a proposal to the City Council on March 25, which discussed transitioning the department from providing Basic Life Support (BLS) to offering Advanced Life Support (ALS).

Currently, the Oak Harbor Fire Department is equipped to provide BLS, but paramedics are trained to perform more advanced procedures, which is vital in emergencies where every second counts, such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe trauma.

“We are at a critical juncture in our community’s growth and development,” said Fire Chief Anderson. “As we plan for future needs, we must ensure we are equipped to provide the highest standard of care possible. By adding paramedics to our team, we can ensure that we are always prepared for the increasing demands of our community’s health needs.” The upgrade to ALS would cost approximately $36,000 annually for personnel, in addition to minor equipment expenses.

One issue raised by the Fire Chief is the fragility of the current Emergency Medical System. During a particularly busy day in March, Oak Harbor experienced a record number of emergency calls, and the ambulance service ran out of available units. “We are currently reliant on the Whidbey Island ambulance service for backup, but when they are stretched thin, it becomes a critical problem,” said Chief Anderson. “We need to build more redundancy and resiliency into our system to ensure that when an emergency arises, we can respond without delay.”

Oak Harbor currently has the highest increase in ambulance patient wait times in the state according to a 2022 Washington EMS Information System report. This delay, coupled with the strain on the current EMS system, calls for proactive planning and the adoption of ALS capabilities within the Oak Harbor Fire Department. The upgrade would also help alleviate the burden on the local hospital, which has expressed concerns over the fire department’s initiative. In response, the Fire Chief emphasized that this move would not duplicate services but rather enhance the overall system’s capacity, creating a more robust, responsive, and resilient emergency medical network for Oak Harbor.

“We are not looking to compete with the hospital,” said Chief Anderson. “We are simply aiming to strengthen the entire emergency response system for the benefit of our community. The goal is to ensure that everyone in Oak Harbor receives the best possible care, regardless of the emergency they face.” Living on an island presents unique challenges. Oak Harbor currently relies on a single ambulance provider responsible for answering all 911 calls, transporting patients off-island, and managing staffing difficulties. There are times when the ambulance service is overwhelmed, and additional resources are required.

The goal is not to become the primary ambulance provider on the island, but to be a partner and provide ALS to our community, even during high call volumes. This redundancy would allow firefighters to transition from a fire engine to an ambulance if needed, especially when no other units are available. Additionally, the department has the ability to recall off-duty staff to help during high-call periods, providing additional support to the EMS system.

The EMS Council, composed of representatives from agencies providing pre-hospital care throughout Island County, unanimously voted to support the Oak Harbor Fire Department’s pursuit of adding paramedics. The proposal will now move forward to the regional council, then to the state for final approval. The Oak Harbor Fire Department anticipates hiring paramedics alongside the opening of the new fire station, which is approximately a year away.

“We are committed to working closely with our EMS partners to ensure that the addition of paramedics not only strengthens Oak Harbor’s capabilities but also enhances the overall delivery of emergency medical services across the region,” said Chief Anderson.