Petition to Reinstate Moses Lake Firefighters Lost from Vaccine Mandate Picks Up Steam

A petition to reinstate Moses Lake firefighters who left the department because of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is picking up steam.

About 2,200 people have signed the petition that was posted on Change.org last Sunday by the firefighter’s union.

Three Moses Lake firefighter were granted religious exemptions from the mandate, but were not given accommodations from the city to continue in their jobs.

Conversely, firefighters with religious exemptions in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are receiving accommodations that require frequent testing for COVID-19.

The Moses Lake Fire Department has already been dealing with a staffing shortage brought on by the pandemic.

The firefighter’s union has been drumming up attention to the three firefighters who are losing their jobs - Captain Phil Walker, Lt. Jay Morice and firefighter Michael Evens - as having 70 years of experience between them in the department.