CONTACT:   Ben Miller-Todd, Director, Emergency Services 
ben.miller-todd@co.thurston.wa.us 360-704-2780

OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners unanimously supported an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council recommendation for the location, operational timeline, and funding required to establish an additional paramedic unit in service of the Thurston County community.  Moreover, this action fulfils a commitment made to Thurston County voters throughout the Medic One EMS Levy restoration process in August of 2021 for the enhancement of emergency medical response throughout the county. 

The proposed location of the new Medic Unit is at the City of Tumwater’s North End Fire Station located at 405 Linwood Ave SW, Tumwater, WA 98512. 

As the EMS Council Chair, Fire Commissioner Stan Moon of East Olympia Fire District 6 noted, “This is a major milestone and it is really putting things in motion to put that 8^th Medic Unit out there - which will be really beneficial in enhancing the service to south county, as well as to the urban core, by being in the location that it is.” 

The action authorizes the Emergency Services Director to fully execute the proposed amendment to the current intergovernmental agreement for paramedic services with the City of Tumwater, and effectively establishes the 8^th Medic Unit to be operational no later than January 1, 2026. 

As Director Miller-Todd noted, “This agreement is a culmination of 18 months of budget sustainability analysis and biennial budget development, data analysis and drivetime analysis, internal and external stakeholder collaboration and presentations, committee recommendations, and contract negotiations.”  

Within the presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, Director Miller-Todd noted that the funding for the 8^th Medic Unit was sustainable within the current and forecasted revenues generated by the Medic One EMS Levy. 

For more information regarding Medic One visit www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/medic-one 

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