Seattle Fire prepares staffing plans ahead of vaccine mandate deadline

SEATTLE — Contingency planning for the Seattle Fire Department is underway as a result of the vaccine mandate deadline on Oct. 18.

Based on current vaccine verification forms that have been submitted, Seattle Fire expects to lose some personnel as a result of the mandate.

Planning ahead, Seattle Fire has put the following into action:

• All nonessential training and community events are canceled
• Limiting annual building focus to schools
• Prioritizing which units could be placed out-of-service
• Adjust response models to best serve residents
• Activating the Resource Management Center to monitor response data in real-time

Seattle Fire assures the community that 911 calls will be answered during this time and crews will arrive.

A final plan will be determined once the number of personnel who depart are tallied.

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