Mill Creek mayor demands South County Fire make do on its promise and return staffing

EVERETT—Mill Creek Mayor Brian Holtzclaw addressed the South County Fire Board of Commissioners Wednesday demanding they make do on their promise and return the Station 76 Medic to Mill Creek after being transferred to Martha Lake without proper due process and despite contractual obligation. In 2021 the City was faced with a tough decision to […]

Mill Creek is furious with South County Fire for lack of transparency and broken promises

MILL CREEK—Both Mill Creek residents and Mill Creek City Council are furious with South County Fire for violating its contract and relocating Station 76 staff to Martha Lake with little to no communication or public outreach. The South County Fire Board of Commissioners is set to continue the discussion at its upcoming board meeting scheduled for […]

South County Fire maintains Protection Class 3 rating

EVERETT—South County Fire has maintained a Protection Class 3 rating by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB). The rating, among the top 15% in the state, applies to communities served by South County Fire including Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated southwest Snohomish County. WSRB ratings range from Class 1 to […]

South County Fire adopts $116 million 2025 budget

EVERETT—South County Fire Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, November 19, to adopt a balanced budget that funds emergency services operations for 2025. Residents of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) are expected to see little or no change to current tax rates. The $116 million operating budget funds current levels of emergency services and includes […]

Letter-to-Editor: South County Fire thanks voters

South County Fire thanks voters for approving the benefit charge renewal in the recent election. We are grateful for your support and trust as we strive to provide high quality emergency services to our community. The benefit charge provides a fair and balanced way to distribute emergency service costs because it’s based on building size, […]

Terri Fitzgerald promoted to South County Fire chief

EVERETT—South County Fire is celebrating the promotion of Battalion Chief Terri Fitzgerald, the agency’s first-ever female chief officer. Fitzgerald has worked nearly 30 years in the fire service, beginning her career in 1995 as a volunteer for Chelan County Fire District 1. She joined South County Fire as a firefighter/paramedic in 2003, later promoting to […]

South County Fire Chief Thad Hovis to retire

EVERETT—South County Fire Chief Thad Hovis has announced he will be retiring on July 1. “It has been a gift to be part of the fire service and this organization. I am extremely proud of the men and women of South County Fire who do amazing work and serve the people of southwest Snohomish County […]