SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane’s fire engines are some of the busiest in the state and are prompting new legislation.
A typical fire engine responds to about 2,000 calls per year. Spokane Fire Engine 1 is set to respond to 6,500 calls this year, according to Spokane Fire Department.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said the increased calls in Spokane are largely due to the city’s fentanyl crisis.
She recently introduced a new bill in hopes of providing first responders better tools to fight against fentanyl.
The legislation would fund and create new technology to detect fentanyl in a non-invasive way, in an attempt to crack down on drug smuggling.
The technology would include using fentanyl-sniffing K9s and devices that can detect fentanyl vapor.
The bill has received bipartisan support from Spokane’s leaders on October 24.
“The significance of the Senator being here is that she gets it. The City of Spokane cannot appropriately address this crisis on our own. We need these regional partnerships,” said Mayor Lisa Brown.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels also expressed his support for the legislation.
“It is not a complete solution, but it is a significant start in the right direction to us getting on top of this fentanyl education,” he said.
Legislatures are also working on securing $3 million for the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center to expand services for people struggling with addiction.
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