East Pierce Fire & Rescue is set to hire four firefighters a year after facing several financial challenges in a short period of time.
The union, Local 3520, announced the new positions in a Facebook post Tuesday.
The goal is to replace positions that were left open following retirements in the past five years and begin the process of improving service, the announcement states.
Currently, 21 firefighters work for the fire district that covers 152 square miles and serves about 90,000 people, the post states.
East Pierce Fire provides protection to a broad area in and around Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, South Prairie, Edgewood and Milton.
“We work hard to make sure you are safe, and that there are enough of us to respond to your needs,” the union wrote. “Since the new fire chief started at East Pierce Fire & Rescue he has revamped the budget and made better use of the available funds.”
Former Chief Jerry Thorson retired at the end of June after more than 40 years in fire service. He was replaced by E.L. “Bud” Backer, who previously worked as deputy chief of Eastside Fire and Rescue in Issaquah.