Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
As is the case with major league baseball and pro football, September has been a time for roster additions and lineup shuffling at Skagit County Fire District 13 near La Conner.
Five probationary firefighters were promoted and two department members added to the District 13 CARES team this month.
Fire Chief Wood Weiss administered oaths of office to “probies” Kai Schley, Connor Parkerson, Wes White and Victor Martinez during the Sept. 10 District 13 Commissioners meeting at the Snee-Oosh Road station.
Another promoted firefighter, Dalton Mitchell, missed the official swearing-in ceremony. He had a more than valid excuse, however. Mitchell was on a service call at the time.
Weiss noted that District 13, a hybrid department composed of volunteers and paid personnel, regularly attracts trainees intent on pursuing fire service careers.
“We have a lot of new people coming in and the new crop looks fantastic,” Weiss said. We have a lot of training going on and we have people coming in from other fire departments.”
“Some people come here without any prior firefighting experience.”
Weiss said probationary firefighters must complete a comprehensive series of task sheets to qualify for promotion.
“It’s a lot of work,” Weiss said. “It can take up to three months in some cases.”
Weiss said Parkerson and firefighter Braden Stanovich will join the proactive CARES (Community Assistance, Referrals and Education Services) unit, a District 13 outreach program designed to address situations before they become critical emergencies.
The new personnel moves reflect increased demands upon District 13 services.
“We had one of our biggest months in August with 144 calls,” Weiss reported to commissioners. “And we’ve had 952 calls for the year to the end of August.”
District 13, whose coverage area is Swinomish Reservation and rural La Conner, fielded 901 calls in the first eight months of 2024 and 871 calls over the same time frame a year ago, Weiss said.
In his monthly report, Weiss said options are being weighed as to which type of fire engine the district should add to its fleet. Investing in a new fire truck was a primary goal linked to voter passage of a district levy lid lift ballot measure last November.
Capt. Ted Taylor, the district’s emergency management coordinator, closed the meeting by noting there is an initiative under way to create a corps of volunteers devoted to emergency preparation and response.
“The role is a critical one,” Taylor said. “We need to build a base of volunteers. Our goal is to build an emergency management group.”
The District 13 Fire Commission meets next on Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. at 17433 Snee-Oosh Road.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
