South County Fire restores paramedic to Mill Creek station

EVERETT — South County Fire will add another paramedic to Mill Creek’s fire station following public outcry over recent deployment changes.

The board of commissioners voted 4-2 on Tuesday to restore staffing at Station 76 from three to five personnel, including one paramedic. Commission Chair Jim Kenny and commissioner Mark Laurence voted against the motion. Commissioner Chris Teofilak was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

On Aug. 1, South County Fire announced a department-wide redeployment plan that removed two paramedics from Mill Creek Station 76. In the announcement, South County Fire spokesperson Christie Veley said the change would increase the number of paramedics in Mill Creek’s surrounding area from five to seven.

Mill Creek city officials have raised concerns about a lack of transparency from South County Fire. In an Aug. 15 statement, Veley said the fire authority informed the city of the change July 22. The model went into effect in mid-July.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/south-county-fire-restores-paramedic-to-mill-creek-station/