FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2001

Contact:             Steve Romines, Medic One Administrator, 360-704-2780

                        Kevin J. O'Sullivan, Thurston County Commission Chair, 360-786-5440

MEDIC ONE PLANS FOR CONTINUED COVERAGE OF YELM AREA

OLYMPIA -- Medic One paramedics are planning to move to a different location in Yelm, but officials say there will be no interruption of service during the change.  At the end of August, the seven paramedic/firefighters will leave the Yelm fire station where they have been located for the past ­­­­­­­six years.  They will then be stationed at facilities in Yelm near the new cinema complex.  At that time their contract will shift to Grand Mound Fire District #14.

Medic One administrator Steve Romines says it's important for the medics to provide 24-hour a day coverage, seven days a week in the Yelm and southeast county area.  "In the year 2000, Yelm medics responded to a total of 871 calls, mostly in the south county area.  Of those calls, more than 400 were in the city of Yelm itself and another 90 were in the Yelm Fire District.  The rest were in Rainier, the Bald Hills and the county.  We're very pleased with the cooperation we have received from Yelm officials and area neighbors that has allowed us to make this move very smoothly."

The paramedics had been providing emergency medical services and firefighting for the Yelm Fire District under a contract, which called for the fire district to pay about 20 percent of the cost for up to nine employees.  The fire district has chosen not to pay that share of the cost so the paramedics will now provide only emergency medical services for the Yelm area from a new location.

County commission chairman Kevin O'Sullivan says, "We are very pleased that there will be no interruption of paramedic services in the Yelm area.  The health and safety of all county residents is very important and this will ensure that basic and advanced life support services will remain available to everyone."

Romines says, "The paramedics will still cover the same area- Yelm, Fire District #2, Rainier Fire District #4 and Bald Hills Fire District #17.  They will also be available to cover the rest of Thurston County as a backup, in case other medic units are busy."