FAQs

To ensure the City can continue providing effective and sustainable services, the City of Mercer Island, at the recommendation of the City Manager, is considering adopting a regional fire services model. A regional fire services model is defined as a single, larger fire agency providing comprehensive fire services across multiple communities. In this scenario, Mercer Island would be served by a larger, regional fire agency instead of the City operating its own, smaller department. Mercer Island fire personnel would transition to the regional fire agency and both Island fire stations would remain open.

A regional collaboration would allow the City to offer even stronger fire and emergency medical services to the Mercer Island community, with more cohesion, more consistent leadership, and a deeper bench of resources, specialty services, and growth opportunities.

The safety and wellbeing of Mercer Island residents is and always has been the top priority for the City of Mercer Island. Taking that priority seriously means ensuring our public fire and safety operations meet the needs of the community now and into the future while employing the best practices possible. Calls to the Fire Department today are much different than even a few decades ago. Originally created to specifically address fire emergencies, our fire department today covers emergency medical services, hazmat services, special rescue, water rescue and recovery services, mobile integrated health, and more. 

Since its inception, the City’s fire department has done a remarkable job keeping the Mercer Island community safe. We are proud of our dedicated fire staff and want to ensure they remain an integral part of our community through a fire services model that provides the greatest support, training, and professional development opportunities.

The Mercer Island Fire Department is one of the few remaining stand-alone fire departments in the region, with most surrounding communities having moved to regional services along the lines of what is being evaluated for Mercer Island. Adopting a regional fire services model would embed the expertise and resources of a larger, integrated fire agency directly within the Mercer Island community. 

No, the goal in pursuing a regional services model for fire services is to enhance these services for Mercer Island residents and businesses while reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies. Being part of a larger agency would mean our firefighters would have access to expanded resources and equipment, and increased training and career growth opportunities; supporting them in their ability to respond to a broad range of emergencies here on Mercer Island.

Under a regional fire services model, our residents should expect very little change, if any, to emergency response, fire inspections, or even inviting your child to sit in a fire truck. The City of Mercer Island would continue to control service levels for fire services provided on Mercer Island. Fire Stations 91 and 92 would remain open and staffed, meeting or exceeding current services levels.

So, what would change? Under a regional services model, fire services would be managed and fulfilled by a regional fire agency instead of being directly operated by the City of Mercer Island. The City would, however, establish service levels and ensure the delivery of fire services continues to meet or exceed current service levels. The leadership of the Fire Department, namely the Chief and Deputy Chief, would be provided by the regional fire agency. The internal services needed to support the Fire Department – Human Resources, IT, Finance, for example - would also be largely provided by the regional fire agency.

If a regional fire services model is adopted, the City has every intention to secure employment opportunities for all Fire Department personnel and is committed to working through employment impacts with the fire union. We rely on the dedicated work of these employees to keep our community safe, and they have our assurance that their employment is a priority. A few positions within the department might shift because of the transition to a regional fire services model, but these changes would not have an impact on fire department operations.

Leadership from the regional fire agency would oversee fire services on Mercer Island with the respective Fire Chief reporting directly to the City Manager for Mercer Island-specific needs. Mercer Island’s fire chief is currently fulfilled through an interim, part-time role (under a contract agreement with Eastside Fire and Rescue) - a regional fire services model would bring the leadership and staff support of a larger fire agency to the Island’s fire operations. 

The City of Mercer Island would continue to control service levels for fire and safety emergency medical services provided on Mercer Island.  

The City has compiled a list of objectives and factors to guide the evaluation of regional fire services proposals. These include:

• Services provided under a regional fire services model will maintain or improve current fire and emergency medical service levels.
• Both fire stations 91 and 92 will remain open. 
• Transitioning to the regional fire services model may result in operating efficiencies and cost savings for the City of Mercer Island but will concentrate the city's financial resources on the staff and delivery of services while reducing the overhead and administration burden of managing a small department.
• Mercer Island fire employees will be hired by the regional agency in their current or comparable positions and will have opportunities for career growth, enhanced training, and other professional development opportunities. 
• Other considerations include agency experience in delivering regional fire and emergency medical services as well as the agency’s governance model, communications strategies, leadership approach, annual report, and more. The full scope of the RFP is available on the City’s Let’s Talk Page (linked here). 

No, both Mercer Island Fire Stations (Station 91 and Station 92) would remain open and operational and provide services that meet or exceed today’s standards.

The regional fire agency would not have taxing authority on Mercer Island. Consequently, adopting a regional fire services model would not have an impact on your taxes.

The Mercer Island Fire Department is one of the few remaining stand-alone fire departments in the region, with most surrounding communities having moved to regional services along the lines of what is being evaluated for Mercer Island; these recently include Edmonds, Woodinville, Tukwila, Lynnwood, and Northshore, with other communities such as Duvall in a similar phase of decision-making. While our regional model would be similar to these other entities, we are focused on a model that meets the specific needs of Mercer Island residents and businesses.

No, the City of Mercer Island is only considering what a regional fire services model would look like for the Mercer Island Fire Department. No other departments or services are being considered.

No, you would still call 911 in case of any emergency and could still reach the fire department’s headquarters by calling (206) 275-7607.

If the City proceeds with a regional fire services model, the term would likely be for ten years. Ten years is a commonly found initial term length in the fire service industry. The City Council could choose in the future not to renew or extend the initial term and revert back to an independent city operated fire service. There would likely be costs to the City to reconstitute the Fire Department should that occur. The City does not anticipate proposals that include “penalties” to not renew or extend after the expiration of the initial term.  

No. Mercer Island will retain service level authority with the expectation that no matter the nature of the emergency call, response times will not be impacted by a transition to a regional fire services model.

At times there are 911 responses of a significant nature such as a residential or commercial fire, large accident on I-90 with multiple patients, or technical rescue events that require additional emergency from outside agencies. This type of assistance falls within two primary categories, automatic aid and mutual aid. Learn more about both and how they work on Mercer Island by reviewing the Overview of Mutual and Automatic Aid document.

No. King County Medic One is a county-wide system for providing emergency medical services. It is available to everyone, whatever the medical emergency. It is funded by the Medic One county property tax levy. This levy fully funds both Basic Life Support (BLS) services and Advanced Life Support (ALS) services. Mercer Island firefighters are trained in Basic Life Support and often provide these services on island. Advanced Life Support service is provided by one of five regional agencies across King County, although all are a part of the Medic One System and will respond county-wide as the need arises. The City of Mercer Island generally receives Advanced Life Support services from Bellevue Fire Medic One. Bellevue Fire also provides Advanced Life Support services to Clyde Hill, Issaquah, Medina, Mercer Island, North Bend, Sammamish, and Snoqualmie areas. Should the City adopt a regional fire model with Eastside Fire & Rescue, Bellevue Fire Medic One would continue to be the primary provider of Advanced Life Support services. Bellevue Fire Medic One currently provides Advanced Life Support services to four other Eastside Fire & Rescue members, North Bend, Sammamish, Issaquah, and Snoqualmie.

The City of Mercer Island and the Mercer Island Fire Department operate under an Emergency Management Regional Coordination Framework through King County. This framework brings together surrounding agencies to share personnel, equipment, and information during an emergency response. Our firefighters also train with surrounding agencies (Redmond and Bellevue specifically) to ensure cohesion. Mercer Island will continue to operate under this regional mutual aid framework. Under a regional services model, the Mercer Island community will have increased access to personnel, resources, and equipment during times of emergency.

Through the adoption of a regional fire services model, some titles or ranks may be adjusted to include promotional opportunities or to align with the staffing framework of the regional service provider. These changes will not impact delivery of fire and emergency medical services to the Mercer Island community. Impacts of the transition on City fire personnel will be bargained with Mercer Island IAFF Local 1762.

If the City adopts a regional fire services model, there will be no impact to building inspections or fire code enforcement. Fire Marshall services will continue to include the enforcement of fire codes and regulations and promoting safe practices in the community.

The proposals from both agencies will include a cost estimate to provide fire and emergency medical services on Mercer Island. This process of seeking proposals will allow the City to perform a side-by-side comparison of current costs, versus the costs of services under a regional services model.

While the City is confident that the proposals to transition to a regional fire services model will show benefit to the Mercer Island community, there is always the possibility that we won’t receive a proposal that meets our needs. If this is the case, the City Manager, in consultation with the City Council, will pause the request for regional proposals.

Yes, the agency will be bound by all Mercer Island laws, codes and standards as set by the City of Mercer Island. If we were to combine with a regional fire service model, there will be no impact to building inspections or fire code enforcement. The Mercer Island Fire Marshal will continue to enforce our fire codes and regulations and promote safe practices to the community.

There will be no changes to our current fleet of trucks. They will continue to have the city logo and “Mercer Island” on them. Any new equipment procured will also include Mercer Island branding. It is anticipated that fire personnel will wear the patches and uniforms associated with the respective regional agency. There will certainly be an opportunity to discuss branding, use of logos, and other forms of agency representation as part of the proposal consideration process.