Submitted by the SJC Hospital District 1
San Juan Island EMS and San Juan Island Fire and Rescue have entered into three different agreements. The first clarifies the roles of each agency. The second is for joint marine response. The third is an EMS training agreement, where San Juan Island EMS will provide ongoing Basic Life Support EMS training for the Fire District’s paid staff.
Recently promoted Fire Chief Noel Monin said, “San Juan Island Fire and Rescue is focused on providing solid fire suppression, vehicle extrication, hazmat, and technical rescue services. Leaning on San Juan Island EMS to provide the Basic Life Support training needed by our staff Firefighter/EMTs will save the taxpayers money and allow us to focus on our core mission.”
Both agencies work together regularly in the field. For instance, on a car accident scene, San Juan Island Fire and Rescue might be managing traffic, hazmat, and extricating a patient from a vehicle, while San Juan Island EMS’ Advanced Life Support team is focused on patient care and transport. On a structure fire, firefighters are managing fire suppression while EMS provides rehab services and medical standby. The Fire District also responds to life-threatening EMS calls or when extra personnel are needed.
EMS Chief Nathan Butler added, “Chief Monin and I were able to talk through numerous operational challenges and develop a strong working relationship. We’ll sign these agreements and file them away somewhere, but the real value added is that we have shared expectations about how to work together as a team. This is a win for our first responders and the public.”
While initial development of the agreements was left to the chiefs, both Boards reviewed, commented on, and ultimately voted to pass the agreements unanimously. Chair Anna Lisa Lindstrum from San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1, which operates San Juan Island EMS, said, “We are happy to be able to work cooperatively with the Fire District to better serve our community.”
Chair Dwight Colley, from San Juan Island Fire and Rescue, said, “These agreements bode well for the future of both organizations and work to ensure the community continues to receive excellent emergency services.”
About the agencies:
San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 3, dba San Juan Island Fire and Rescue, provides fire suppression, vehicle extrication, technical rescue, hazmat, and Basic Life Support EMS services to San Juan Island, Johns, Henry, Spieden, Pearl, and Stuart islands.
San Juan County San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 operates San Juan Island EMS, which provides both Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support services, as well as transport, to San Juan Island, Johns, Henry, Spieden, Pearl, and Stuart Islands. The Hospital District also operates Village at the Harbor and Village at Home and pays subsidies to support clinic and hospital services at Peace Health Peace Island Medical Center, Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center, and the Prevention Coalition.
