East Pierce Fire to hire 4 firefighters next year
East Pierce Fire & Rescue is set to hire four firefighters a year after facing several financial challenges in a short period of time.
The union, Local 3520, announced the new positions in a Facebook post Tuesday.
The goal is to replace positions that were left open following retirements in the past five years and begin the process of improving service, the announcement states.
Currently, 21 firefighters work for the fire district that covers 152 square miles and serves about 90,000 people, the post states.
East Pierce Fire provides protection to a broad area in and around Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, South Prairie, Edgewood and Milton.
“We work hard to make sure you are safe, and that there are enough of us to respond to your needs,” the union wrote. “Since the new fire chief started at East Pierce Fire & Rescue he has revamped the budget and made better use of the available funds.”
Since the new fire chief started at East Pierce Fire & Rescue he has revamped the budget and made better use of the available funds.
Statement from East Pierce Firefighters union Local 3520
Former Chief Jerry Thorson retired at the end of June after more than 40 years in fire service. He was replaced by E.L. “Bud” Backer, who previously worked as deputy chief of Eastside Fire and Rescue in Issaquah.
Backer was selected for the top job in May, following a national search.
Prior to his hiring, East Pierce struggled financially. Two maintenance and operation levy measures were rejected by voters in 2014. Failure to renew the levy, which represented more than 15 percent of the district’s operating budget, resulted in deep cuts to fire and emergency services last November.
Shortly thereafter, six layoff notices were issued to temporary and career firefighters. Thorson announced his retirement a month after the district narrowly avoided most of those layoffs.
Despite an eventual labor agreement, a secretary was laid off and another staff member was reduced to part time.
East Pierce anticipates a March starting date for new hires, according to its website. Visit eastpiercefire.org for more information on the job openings.
Kari Plog: 253-597-8682, @KariPlog
This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 12:14 PM with the headline "East Pierce Fire to hire 4 firefighters next year."