WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Emergency response coverage is changing for some recreation areas in south Whatcom County.
Starting on Wednesday, July 1, South Whatcom Fire Authority will no longer provide EMS and rescue services outside of their legal boundaries.
The affected areas include Lake Whatcom, Lookout Mountain, Chuckanut Mountain – excluding Larrabee State Park – and parts of Galbraith Mountain. The fire authority said it was able to reach an agreement with the City of Bellingham to continue serving the Galbraith Mountain Recreation Easement area.
The changes will not affect Lake Samish.
South Whatcom Fire Authority said they can’t legally provide emergency services outside their boundaries without an agreement with the county to cover the cost of those responses.
The Whatcom County Executive’s Office said in a statement that it has a policy of not contracting fire agencies to serve outside of their jurisdiction.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, which will take over EMS duties in the affected areas, said the change could result in longer response times and increased reliance on volunteers.
You can view a map of SWFA’s boundaries on its Facebook page.
