A group of South King Fire and Rescue firefighters are eligible to return to work next week after the were let go for not meeting Washington State's COVID-19 vaccine mandate last year.
Last month, the fire board voted unanimously to allow the firefighters who were let go, or put on leave, to return to work Nov. 1, if vacancies exist.
“We have no concerns about undue risk to either patients or our firefighters,” Fire Chief Dave Mataftin told the Federal Way Mirror. “If there were any concerns about that, I would not feel comfortable moving forward in doing this. But frankly, it’s the right thing to do by our employees, and it’s an incredibly safe thing to do.
Mataftin said it is the "right thing to do" and estimated that six firefighters are eligible to return. He said other cases will be looked at, so the number eligible to return could grow.
Any new hires will have to be vaccinated, and Malaftin said close to 100 percent of the department is currently vaccinated.
“We are wanting to work with the department, administration, as well as the commissioners to come to an agreement and work together,” IAFF Local President Dean Bastin told the newspaper.
This stems from an August 2021 vaccine mandate by Gov. Jay Inslee for all healthcare workers, including firefighters who are also EMTs or paramedics. They were told they would lose their jobs if they did not get the vaccine by October 2021.
Following the news of the mandate, the department introduced a policy that barred unvaccinated responders from engaging in patient care.
The policy lead to three members being reassigned to other duties, four members leaving the department and one retirement.
Officials said another five members who were off at the time were impacted.
Mataftin told the newspaper they are looking at the budget to see how many they can hire, including filling vacancies from retirements.
