Four of the six paid on-call firefighters who lost their jobs in budget cuts this month have rejoined Island County Fire District 3 as volunteers.

They are Scott Carscadden, Bryce Lyshol, Stephan Peterson and Jaymes Stewart, all trained firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

They are expected to be confirmed at this week’s regular meeting of district commissioners. The meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at district headquarters in Freeland, 5535 Cameron Road.

The part-time paid firefighter program was started as a pilot project in 2006 to help fill in gaps between full-time staff and volunteers.

The program ended April 1 to make up a projected $90,000 shortfall in this year’s $1.8 million district budget.

Officials said they would like to have 100 volunteers, and have hired Freeland marketing consultant Sherrye Wyatt to bolster recruitment. The district particularly wants to increase the number of volunteers at the Saratoga, Langley and Maxwelton stations. The district’s Web site has new information about volunteer recruitment. The site is at www.icfd.org.

Also Thursday, commissioners will hear an update on the search for a new chief to replace Dan Stout, who will retire in February.

Emergency Services Consulting Inc. of Wilsonville, Ore. is expected to interview district staff and commissioners soon before conduction a nationwide search for a new chief.