Columbia EMS Responds to Grant County Fire District 3 Recent Announcements
Press Release 4/21/2026
From Brent Dowlen
I had several members of the community ask us to follow up with Columbia EMS on Grant County Fire Protection District No. 3’s Press Release that we shared on 4/20/26.
I reached out to Owner & CEO, Leslie Siebert for their official statement. Below is the unaltered, edited, or modified official press release from Columbia EMS.
From Owner & CEO of Columbia EMS Leslie Siebert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbia EMS has received several inquiries regarding recent staffing and EMS system announcements from Grant County Fire District 3. We value our partnership with the district and our shared commitment to the community. In the interest of transparency, we offer the following clarifications.
ALS Authorization and System Capacity
Grant County Fire District 3 is currently licensed at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level and is authorized to provide aid—not transport. As such, any paramedics hired by the district are limited to practicing at the BLS level and cannot perform Advanced Life Support (ALS) procedures.
EMS licensing and ALS authorization are regulated through the Washington State Department of Health in coordination with county and regional EMS leadership. Grant County is currently operating at its approved ALS capacity and is undergoing a formal “min/max” review to determine whether additional ALS resources are warranted.
This process can take up to a year and requires local, regional, and state approval. Any expansion of ALS services is based on system-wide need and data-driven analysis—not individual agency preference or strategic planning.
Under the current system, Columbia EMS remains well-positioned to respond quickly and effectively to service needs in the George area should gaps in coverage be identified. A few years ago, Columbia EMS stationed crews in George through a paid lease agreement with the district after losing its space at the old hospital. We were later given short notice to vacate the space so it could be repurposed for the district’s resident program. To our knowledge at that time, those residents were not EMTs.
Funding and Cost Efficiency
Total combined funding from the City of Quincy and Fire District 3 is approximately $606,700 annually.
The Fire District contributes approximately $256,100 annually, including a recent 20% increase.
The City of Quincy contributes significantly more for the same level of service.
An independent study commissioned by the district estimates the cost to provide this level of service at approximately $1.9 million per year.
The study also identifies potential startup costs approaching $1 million, which are avoided under the current system due to Columbia EMS’s established operations and infrastructure.
Key Context:
Columbia EMS is currently delivering a service estimated to cost $1.9 million annually for just over $600,000 in total funding—a highly cost-effective model for the community.
Study Methodology Concerns
Columbia EMS has concerns regarding the methodology of the district’s recent EMS study. Despite multiple offers, primary operational and calls for service data from Columbia EMS were not requested or incorporated.
The absence of verified source data limits the reliability of the study’s conclusions. Internal analysis by Columbia EMS, using multiple years of data, indicates that EMS call volume within the Station 35 coverage area is fewer than 150 calls annually.
Financial Pressures on EMS
Like EMS providers nationwide, Columbia EMS faces ongoing financial pressures due to federally capped reimbursement rates under Medicare and Medicaid, which cover approximately two-thirds of the population served.
These reimbursement limits do not reflect the actual cost of providing care and apply equally to public and private agencies. Additionally, anticipated federal changes—including potential reductions in GEMT funding—may further impact EMS system sustainability in the public sector.
Summary
Grant County Fire District 3 does not currently have authorization to provide ALS services, and there is no guarantee such authorization will be granted.
Given the significant gap between the true cost of service and current funding levels, along with broader reimbursement challenges, maintaining a partnership with an established, efficient private EMS provider remains the most fiscally responsible path forward.
Columbia EMS remains committed to working collaboratively with all community partners—and the community as a whole—to ensure high-quality, cost-effective emergency medical services.
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Siebert, Paramedic
Owner & CEO | Columbia EMS
(425) 218-3009 | lsiebert@columbiaems.com
This statement is published as an official press release issued by Owner & CEO of Columbia EMS Leslie Siebert. The content has not been altered, edited, or modified in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.
This platform is providing distribution of this material by public request. Readers specifically requested we follow up with Columbia EMS on Grant County Fire Protection District No. 3’s Press Release. Responsibility for the content rests entirely with the Owner & CEO of Columbia EMS Leslie Siebert