Congratulations to EPFRs newly promoted Medical Services Officers: Captain/Paramedic Shawn Wagner, Lieutenant/Paramedic Adam Lathrop, and Lieutenant/Paramedic Jeff Berry!

Today, February 6th marks the first deployment of EPFRs Medical Service Officers (MSOs). One MSO will be assigned to each of the department’s three shifts. MSOs are automatically dispatched to high-priority EMS calls to help provide clinical oversight and support for fire/EMS providers.

The three new MSOs are firefighter-paramedic officers whose specific priority is to help further improve the medical care delivered to patients in the fire district daily. In addition to responding to critical 911 incidents, the MSOs provide training and mentoring to our members in the field. One particular focus for the MSOs is to assist with the training of new probationary firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics.

The MSOs went through more than 120 hours of additional training to help prepare them for their new positions. The MSOs work regular 24-hour shifts alongside other fire/EMS crews.

While the MSOs will be based out of the new Station 118 in Edgewood when it opens later this spring, they will respond to 911 calls throughout the district, anywhere from Milton to Lake Tapps and Sumner, and to incidents in areas outside South Prairie or Buckley.