By Jon Wiseman

Sammamish politicians are playing politics with public safety. The City Council will vote on Nov. 12 to leave Eastside Fire and Rescue (EFR) and start its own fire department based on an inconclusive and unrealistic study. They seem prepared to decide the future of fire service when even their own “expert” consultants wouldn’t make that recommendation.

Sammamish residents currently enjoy high-quality, comprehensive and community-based fire and life safety services while paying less than anyone else in the EFR partnership. The quality and value of EFR is why Sammamish citizens ranked fire service as one of the top three areas of satisfaction in the city’s public survey last year. That’s higher than the council scored.

No other Washington city is starting its own fire department because costs outweigh the benefits. With EFR, taxpayers share costs and resources with other communities to receive a more comprehensive level of service than they could alone. Sharing resources eliminates duplication of services and greatly reduces overhead and administration costs. EFR personnel also support the community through programs in public schools, charitable activities and training the Sammamish Community Emergency Response Team.

Citizens have a lot to lose if Sammamish creates its own bare-bones fire department. Based on the city’s cost analysis, the new department wouldn’t have fire investigators, firefighter training, fire safety education in schools, a volunteer program or assurances for mutual aid from surrounding jurisdictions. The city plans to eliminate essential personnel who direct fire, medical and rescue activities in the field and residents will lose specialized teams such as Water Rescue, Wild Land Fire and Hazardous Materials Response.

The report shows minimal savings with a new department because critical services and personnel aren’t included. Savings would be achieved by cutting corners and reducing the quality of services, which puts residents and their first responders at risk. Greater risk means higher insurance premiums for homes and businesses and loss of life and property.

The council and mayor delayed their decision after hearing from concerned and angry citizens last week. The city needs to engage in statesmanship instead of Washington, D.C.-style brinksmanship. Their inability to work with others on the EFR board is a bad reason to start a fire department that will reduce the quality of emergency services, cost taxpayers more and jeopardize public safety.

To help, please visit our website www.saveourfiredept.com and tell the Sammamish City Council to stop playing with fire.

Jon Wiseman is a firefighter with Eastside Fire and Rescue. He has been responding to calls in Sammamish since 2003.