Fire Chief Brad Doerflinger presented a contingency plan to the Board of Fire Commissioners for Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety if efforts to pass a Maintenance and Operations levy fail in April. The plan includes issuing layoff notices in late 2013 to six more Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians, temporarily closing a fire station, and keeping a medical aid car out of service.

These six positions are in addition to the five the fire department has already lost since 2009. Fire department officials estimate that this will increase emergency response times between two to five minutes depending on where someone lives in the district.

Chief Doerflinger is frustrated with the additional layoffs, but acknowledges there is little that can be done.

“The only place we have left to cut is emergency personnel,” he said. “But laying off another six firefighters when we’re already down five positions is a formula for disaster.”

Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety is proposing a temporary, three year levy for $1.5 million on the April Special Election ballot. Ballots must be postmarked by April 23. Residents with questions about the levy are encouraged to contact Chief Doerflinger personally at chief@maplevalleyfire.org or 425-432-0200.

For more information about the fire department, please visit our web site at www.maplevalleyfire.org.