08/21/2026
The end of an era and the beginning of a new! Stevens County Fire Dist 3 takes over techical rescue from Stevens County Sheriff's Ambulance!
In the early 1990s, a specialized team was created in Stevens County consisting of EMS, law enforcement officers, and fire personnel after a need for technical rescue services was identified. At that time, fire departments and districts did not have the capabilities to provide this service. While technical rescue has always been a standard duty within the fire service, Stevens County is largely rural, so a specialized team, Team Rescue, was established to supplement service across the greater area.
Currently, numerous fire districts throughout the county now have technical rescue equipment, which has grown from just one district ten years ago. A few months ago, Bill and Julie Buscher announced their retirement from Stevens County Sheriffβs EMS. With their departure, the last remaining full-time personnel within that agency capable of operating Team Rescue are leaving. After discussions with Team Rescue members, it was decided that this is the ideal time to disband the team, returning the responsibility for technical rescue to local fire districts and departments. Members felt this change would improve emergency response capabilities and simplify logistics for the volunteers involved.
Conversations then began with County officials and District 3 Commissioners regarding options for Team Rescue. Both agreed that the best course of action to ensure continued safe and effective service to the community would be to transfer the equipment to District 3, with the understanding that it would remain available for mutual aid responses with other fire districts and EMS agencies. This decision reflects the fact that Colville Fire/SCFD3 personnel have been the primary workforce behind Team Rescue for years, with 12 of its 14 members also serving with Colville Fire. As such, the necessary training and knowledge to sustain the program already exist within that organization.