Representatives from Jefferson County Fire District No. 6 and the Port Townsend Fire Department are exploring the possibility of the two districts merging volunteer firefighter forces and sharing a fire chief.
A joint-operations committee with representatives from both fire departments recommended Tuesday that a single volunteer firefighter organization be formed to cover both organizations.
The recommendation is part of an effort to explore options that would bring the two organizations into a closer working relationship to bring down administrative overhead and increase service.
That could eventually mean a contract for services between the two districts, a merger or annexation.
The committee consists of volunteers from both departments, citizens in both fire districts, paid staffers from the Port Townsend Fire Department, and Fire District No. 6 Commissioner Rich Stapf Jr.
“Right now, the district is at a crossroads,” Stapf said. “We’re looking at different options, but were taking small steps at this point.”
Stapf said the committee would send out letters over the next week to Port Townsend Fire Department officials and District No. 6 commissioners requesting them to take action on the recommendation.
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The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.