Lid Lift on August Primary Election Ballot WEST RICHLAND, WASH. — Everyone is tired of hearing about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. However, it’s important to know the impacts it has had to staffing for local fire districts. Benton County Fire District 4 is a good example. At one point, half of its full-time emergency personnel were self-quarantining. This resulted in significantly higher overtime costs as firefighters had to work multiple shifts to make sure there was an adequate emergency response. Benton County Fire District 4 has a proud history of responding to calls with volunteer emergency personnel, and the pandemic also has reduced that number. Volunteers are dealing with new work schedules, working from home, and managing kids home from school. For example, a volunteer paramedic had to cut her normal hours of service to the community. School closures meant she is staying home with her children and providing their home-schooling activities. ...