Editorial: The Fire Levy, Then and Now

— by Margie Doyle —

We’ve listened to, and repeated, many of the concerns of Orcas taxpayers as they face their vote for the Fire and Rescue District’s levy in April. We’ve had some of those concerns ourselves, as wage earners who’ve seen a personal two-thirds drop in wages since 2009.

And now we, the editors at Orcas Issues, have decided to support the levy.

There are those whose minds are already made up, pro and con. But for those who still are undecided, it may be helpful to know the considerations that lead us to endorse a “Yes” vote on the Fire Levy when the ballots are mailed this week.

The 1999 Fire levy which expires Dec. 31 this year, had three objectives:
1) capital expenditures for construction, reconstruction and equipment updates;
2) improved benefits for volunteers;
3) improved communication with the community.

People who feel that the 1999 levy should be considered “once and for all time” are, at best, indulging in wishful thinking. Anyone who’s had a child, owned a car or a house, held down a job, knows that ongoing maintenance and improvement necessitate ongoing expenditures, and that those costs are on the rise. We taxpayers, with the District, are responsible for ongoing expenditures — and the benefits to the taxpayers who avail themselves of Orcas Fire and Rescue Services.

The second fulfilled objective — improved benefits for volunteers — has wide community support, one would think at first glance. But again, the cost of maintaining volunteer gear, health benefits and training is an ongoing expense that benefits the entire community.

The third objective, communication, was often, until 2012 when Kevin O’Brien became Chief, an afterthought. However, with O’Brien’s leadership, Orcas taxpayers:

1) are informed within hours of our district’s responses to fire and rescue calls, through alerts sent to local media by Chief O’Brien;
2) learn of ongoing Fire and Rescue activity in the Chief’s monthly reports issued to the local media;
3) receive a periodic newsletter, the Siren, in the U.S. Mail;
4) have an up-to-date, user-friendly, comprehensive website for 24-hour electronic information, that is one of the best of county websites, public or private;
5) get monthly accounting on the OIFR budget that is clear and concise (in comparison to the multi-page, obscure accounting in the past when using the County system);
6) get a “human voice” (usually Lindsay Schirmer or Pat Ayers) when the Fire Dept. is called in Eastsound (376-2331);
7) can learn CPR training which OIFR frequently conducts at public meetings, open houses, even at the Saturday Market.

This takes time, effort and infrastructure — and it pays off.

We have been concerned about the 2014 budget presented to taxpayers at district meetings last fall (attended usually by less than a handful of the public). And it may surprise some to know that OIFR administration and commissioners responded in a concrete manner to those concerns:

1) the cost of living allowance built into the budget was reduced from 3 percent to 2 percent;
2) the per diem was reduced;
3) the contract amount for a qualified fire district accountant was reduced by half, with the inclusion of in-district, volunteer assistance in compiling the budget and accounting (as requested by taxpayers who attended district meetings.)

Concerns about “over-sophisticated,” “state-of-the-art” equipment and vehicles ignore history. Times have changed, personnel has changed, equipment and regulation have changed — and fires have changed also. For example, Jim McCorison explained at a recent Fire and Rescue Open House that whereas before, it was smoke inhalation that injured and killed people in structure fires, now it is the toxic fumes from the petroleum-based household products that kill people. Would we begrudge the most effective firefighting gear and vehicles that enable our firefighters to put out “modern” fires, such as the recent Deer Harbor Marina fire, without endangering their own lives?

We’ve also argued about the number of calls to which OIFR responds each day. Maybe we should take a good look, as OIFR Commissioners and Chief O’Brien have done on more than one occasion, at the real Elephant in the Room — rising medical costs. Medical calls are the preponderance in Orcas Fire and Rescue calls. Medical and health insurance costs have been rising at a rate of 10 percent per year, nationally. OIFR responds to every call for help, no matter how incidental or serious. They come to our homes. They help transport us off-island when necessary. They are our lifeline when health, as well as property, is endangered. As the traditional medical system becomes less responsive, we are thankful that the Orcas Fire and Rescue District answers our calls for help.

We’ve talked about the past and present; we would also like to consider the future. Under Chief Kevin O’Brien’s leadership, OIFR has had the largest recruit class ever. OIFR has seen returning volunteers, who dropped out due to morale and leadership issues. O’Brien’s leadership extends formally and informally: in speaking before the state legislature; in organizing Orcas Cares to teach Seniors how to help OIFR access important information when volunteers and staff respond to calls; in coordinating food and clothing and shelter when a fire burned a family out of their home; in participating in Multiple Sclerosis fund-raising bike rides; and in nixing practices that, while legal, offend the public sense of accountability.

People don’t hear, or pay attention, to many of these acts of responsiveness, accountability and leadership. But they sure take note when mistakes are made and seem to want all the good that has been achieved ignored so that their personal indignation is satisfied.

But has anyone heard of a mistake or irresponsibility in fighting a fire, or in responding to a medical call?

We’ve asked our questions, and we’ve stated our concerns. We’ve gotten answers more respectful than many of the questions posed, and we’ve gotten reasonable responses to our concerns.

It is with respect and appreciation that we advise Orcas Issues‘ readers to vote yes on the Fire Levy Proposition when they get their ballots in the mail this week.