CAPE GEORGE — The tide seems to have turned for the Cape George fire department following months of dissension and controversy.
District Administrator Mike Eliason said Monday that Jefferson County Fire Protection District No. 6 will double the number of its volunteer firefighters within the next two months, welcome back several volunteers who had been granted leaves of absence and hire its first full-time operations chief from among 18 applicants.
The district is also very close to an agreement with Port Townsend Paper Corp. concerning fire service, Eliason said.
“We’re really close to an agreement with Port Townsend Paper and hopefully, we’ll have that settled, perhaps this week,” Eliason said. He said paper mill officials were reviewing a proposed contract Monday.
Eliason said 11 people have stepped forward to volunteer as firefighters and the background checks have been completed on all but one. Their addition and the two returning firefighters would essentially double the volunteer force.
“It’s going to double our force practically overnight,” Eliason said, noting training will take several months.
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