North Sound News

Engine that responds to 3,000 calls a year may be shelved by budget cuts

EVERETT, Wash. — Everett firefighters say the public is at risk if the city follows through with pulling one of its engines from service Monday.

The outgoing Everett mayor has instructed the fire chief to shut down fire engine 3, which responds to more than 3,000 calls per year, according to the Everett Herald.

The city has already paid more than $2 million in overtime to firefighters this year. Only $900,000 is allocated to overtime each year.

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Firefighters are saying shelving an engine will create a public safety risk.

Firefighter staffing in Everett has been political for years, and outgoing Mayor Ray Stephanson said the city must curb the expenses.

Meanwhile, the firefighters’ union, Local 46, says many of the problems could be solved by adding staff and that an engine should not be pulled from service because of the city's mismanagement.

The firefighters’ union is seeking help from the public and ask all Everett residents to contact their council members and the mayor, encouraging the city to comply with the state law and restore proper staffing levels so the engine does not go out of service.