Fire and EMS Services

For over two decades, BERK has worked with fire and EMS services organizations across the state on strategy development, financial analysis and funding, capital facilities planning, community and demographic analysis, and standards of cover studies.

Key dynamics shaping fire and EMS service delivery

BERK understands that today’s fire and EMS agencies must navigate complex dynamics, including:

  • Fiscal pressures. Rising costs for labor, apparatus, and facilities intersect with revenue constraints and tax burden concerns. This has prompted many organizations to consider new funding and governance options, including collaborative partnerships, mergers, and regionalization, and options to increase financial sustainability through more efficient operations, nimble funding strategies, and enhanced community support.

  • Community growth and changing demographics. Population growth, aging residents, and greater cultural and linguistic diversity influence demand for services, including more medical and nonemergent calls and new service delivery models.

  • Climate-driven risks and response. Longer fire seasons, more frequent extreme weather events, and expansion of the wildland–urban interface increase call volumes and require new training, equipment, and interagency coordination.

  • Workforce recruitment, retention, and wellbeing. Agencies have a heightened focus on responder health while navigating tighter labor markets and increased training requirements.

Our services:

  • Strategic planning and implementation.

  • Community engagement and staff engagement.

  • Governance model options assessments.

  • Operational funding studies, including levy lid lifts and fire benefit charges.

  • Capital facilities planning and funding, including impact fee studies.

  • Community risk assessment and standards of cover studies.

BERK’s Approach

  • We are deeply rooted in Washington state. We understand the governance models, funding mechanisms, legal parameters, and service delivery options appropriate to serving Washington communities.  

  • We take an interdisciplinary approach. Our team understands the connections among community growth and demographics, municipal finance, and public safety service delivery. We can bring BERK’s strengths in strategy, finance, GIS, facilitation, and engagement to any project. We often collaborate with a range of local partners when their experience or subject matter expertise is complementary to ours.

  • We bring a data-driven, objective lens. Our Mission is helping communities and organizations create their best futures. We work for and on behalf of our clients, supporting their ability to make informed decisions and communicate with external partners, decision-makers, and constituents.

South County Fire Tax Increment Financing Analysis

South County Fire Tax Increment Financing Analysis

East Pierce Fire and Rescue Strategic Plan

East Pierce Fire and Rescue Strategic Plan

Snohomish County Fire District 4 Strategic Plan

Snohomish County Fire District 4 Strategic Plan

Some of Our Fire Clients

  • Bellevue Fire Department

  • Camano Island Fire and Rescue

  • East Pierce Fire Department

  • Kennewick Fire Department

  • Kent Regional Fire Authority

  • King County Fire District #2

  • Lake Stevens Fire Department

  • Marysville Fire

  • Moses Lake Fire Department

  • Northshore Fire Department

  • Orting Valley Fire and Rescue

  • Puget Sound Fire

  • Renton Regional Fire Authority

  • Seattle Fire Department

  • Skagit County Fire Department

  • Snohomish County Fire District 4

  • Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue

  • South County Fire

  • South Pierce County Fire and Rescue

  • Tukwila Fire Department

  • Whatcom County Fire District 7

Interested in learning more?

Please reach out to Principal Brian Murphy or Marketing Manager Michele Eakins-TeSelle for more information about how we can help you.

Were you at the 2026 WA Fire Chief’s Conference?

Download our presentation materials here!