As the population of Lynnwood grows, firefighters are increasingly relying on other departments, and now city managers are trying to figure out the best way to respond.
Of the nearly 50 firefighters who responded to a fire at the Camelot apartments in September, only 7 were actual Lynnwood firefighters.
It goes to show how departments help one another during bigger emergencies, but it's also an example of how much Lynnwood relies on nearby communities.
"The problem is when we do have a fire incident like the one we had at Camelot, half of my resources are on other calls already," said Scott Cockrum, Lynnwood Fire Chief.
Lynnwood's population is projected to increase by more than 50% by 2035. Firefighters will be responding to more calls in taller buildings, like an eight-story apartment building, which is currently under construction.
"This development that is occurring is something we have been planning for, it is now here, and we have to accommodate it," said David Kleitsch, economic development director for Lynnwood.
The city is considering a few options, from hiring more people and buying more equipment, to contracting with or joining Fire District One, which serves multiple communities in Snohomish County.
They could also create a regional fire authority, which is a way to formally join forces with nearby departments.
Right now the city is just trying to educate people about the need for change, before making any decisions.
"We have a 4 and 5 minute response time, there's no delays for us, when you call 911 I need to have the resources here available to respond to the incident," said Cockrum.
The city says it's too early to tell how much these proposals might cost taxpayers.