Nathan Butler for Fire District/EMS Levy

Members of the Press and the Public: 

My name is on the inside cover of the Citizen’s Advisory Group recommending the Integration of EMS and Fire. I have advocated for it tirelessly. Among my first tasks when hired in December 2020 as the Chief Executive for EMS was to see if a pathway could be found towards integration. 

I remain in favor of integration and hope you will vote for it: one training program rather than two. One agency, internally coordinated, responding to calls rather than two. Shared depth of resources and assets both human and capital. Simplified communications. Less redundancy. 

But after observing the letters in the paper and then being confronted by a firefighter accusing San Juan Island EMS of running a shadow campaign to undermine integration, I think it’s worth clarifying a few things. In doing so, I speak only for myself. 

Virtually all members of San Juan Island EMS have stayed out of campaigning for or against any aspect of the election and integration. A recent letter claiming to be from personnel of both San Juan Island EMS and San Juan Island Fire and Rescue had three dozen names, but all were Fire personnel. Three happened to be valued members of both agencies. Another letter purported that all EMTs and Firefighters were in favor of integration. 

I think that is presumptuous and misleading. The union at San Juan Island EMS (8 full-time employees) did not weigh in for or against integration. The EMT Association did the same. Really, the responders at San Juan Island EMS trust the public to make their decision and will do what is asked of them. There is no campaign either hidden or seen, one way or the other.  

If there is ambivalence, I personally believe it is because they are not sure they are valued at the Fire District. There can be no better example than publishing letters representing themselves to be from everyone of consequence in EMS, when very few members of San Juan Island EMS were participants. When they didn’t (presumably) get the support they wanted, they just did what they wanted anyway. 

That will need to change for an integrated system to be successful. And I believe a successful integration will benefit us all. 
San Juan Island EMS has run a very fine program, and that is because of its people. If the Fire District’s EMS levy passes, I hope San Juan Island Fire and Rescue will learn to value them as much as I do. They deserve a standing ovation for a job well done.

 
Nathan Butler 
Chief Executive, San Juan Island EMS and San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1