Moses Lake Fire Department Adding Six Firefighters

The Moses Lake Fire Department will be bringing on six new firefighters thanks to the city and the two organizations winning a FEMA grant through the Staffing Adequate for Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER program.

Fire Marshall Derek Beach says a survey was conducted in 2016 that showed the department needed to hire six people for the current call volume.

"In 2019, the council was able to fund three of those positions. This grant, that will take place in 2020-2022, will be able to fund the additional three positions that brings us up to the six that we were short in 2016."

Beach says the grant will fully fund salaries for the three firefighters for 2020 and 2021 with a reduction in 2022. Starting in 2023, the city needs to pay them fully, but Beach believes that is the current plan.

According to Beach, this means 11 career firefighters will be on each shift.

"This will allow coverage of sick leave, vacation, extended illness, things like that with less requirement of overtime. So it's going to be a cost savings in overtime."

The additional firefighters will also help maintain or improve the Department's rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau which sets insurance rates for home and business owners.