Fire District No. 3 News

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PEND OREILLE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 3

» AUGUST NEWS ARTICLES

Brush Fire Lights Scotia Road

Volunteer Firefighter Randy Pymm secures the perimeter around the brush fire that took over two acres at Scotia Road and Highway 2 Friday, Aug. 15. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is still investigating the cause of the fire. Pend Oreille Fire Districts Nos. 3 and 4 responded to the 11:30 a.m. call to fight the 2-acre fire. DNR had four fire engines trucking water to the blaze. The U. S. Forest Service also responded with a crew of four firefighters to assist the attacks. The fire endangered no buildings. To prevent further damage, a hand crew from the Airway Heights Correctional Facility came out on behalf of DNR. Ten inmates in good standing dug a dirt line 2-5 feet wide to prevent the fire from traveling farther. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 Fire Chief Mark Havener said DNR spent the last half of Friday afternoon, Aug. 15,  investigating and wrapping up the scene. Published in the Newport Miner - August 20, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Tree Kills Man on Sacheen Lake

SACHEEN LAKE – A 58-year-old Seattle man died from his injuries after a tree fell on him during a windstorm Monday night, Aug. 18. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3’s emergency medical team arrived on East Shore Road shortly after 10 p.m. The tree, apparently blown loose by the night’s windstorm, trapped the man. Fire Chief Mark Havener said friends on the scene freed the man from the tree and carried him to the house. The man was in full cardiac arrest when the emergency medical technicians arrived. When Newport Ambulance took the man to Newport Hospital and Health Services, he did have a pulse. Havener said the man succumbed to his injuries later at the Newport hospital. Pend Oreille sheriff’s deputies said they would not be investigating the death. The fire district was not able to release the victim’s name because it was unknown if next of kin had been notified.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - August 20, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Fire District No. 3 Apparatus Update

R33: Rescue 33 was placed in service in early May and was acquired from a broker in southern California. The former utility district truck is a 2003 F450 diesel with 4wd, winch and automatic transmission. Volunteers from Fire District No. 3 completed the transformation into a rescue vehicle and wildland Type 6 engine. The majority of the equipment came from the salvage from the former R33, which was retired prematurely last November. Rescue 33 is equipped with BLS EMS equipment, 250 gallons of water, 10 gallons of class a foam, 100ft. booster reel, and a wildland rated fire pump. Randy Pymm, a volunteer and part-time maintenance tech for Fire District No. 3 completed the majority of the work. The engine is serving out of our Deer Valley Station.

BR32: Brush 32 is the second wildland-dedicated vehicle that the district has placed in-service. This vehicle started as one-ton pickup and was acquired for free from the Federal excess property program.  A rural fire assistance grant was applied for and received to fund this project. The volunteers including; Harry Egland, Larry Eldridge, Paul James and Randy Pymm completed the vehicle the first week of August. The Type 6 engine is a 1995 GMC one-ton chassis with diesel power and 4wd. The crew cab has plenty of room for crews and gear. The aluminum flatbed was purchased used locally and we outfitted the rig with a donated hose reel, tools boxes and foam system. The new tank and pump were purchased from General Fire Equipment in Spokane. The Type 6 engine worked the other day on a wildland fire and did very well. This new vehicle is stationed at Station 32, our Sacheen Lake fire station.

C3: Command 31, a 1998 Chevy Tahoe replaces the old one, which was donated to the fire district 3 years ago. This vehicle responds as the Chiefs vehicle and is equipped with basic EMS equipment and Incident command support materials.

Firefighters Train in Fireblast Trailer

DIAMOND LAKE – The Washington State Firefighters Association gave local fire district volunteers the opportunity to train in the “Fireblast Trailer,” a live fire environment. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 hosted the trailer event July 27. Personnel from fire districts Nos. 3, 4 and 6, along with the West Pend Oreille Fire District took the opportunity to train.

Courtesy photo/Dennis Merritt - Firefighters trained July 27 in the “Fireblast Trailer.” In the front row are Chief Doug Devoe, left, Instructor Mark Colson, Instructor Kyle Dennis, Volunteer Firefighter Chris Wyrobek from Fire District No. 4. In the back row are Fire District No. 3 volunteers Alex Arnold, Larry Eldridge, Brad Wear, Fire District No. 6 volunteer Cody Zurbagh, West Pend Oreille Fire District volunteer Nick Knack, Fire District No. 3 volunteer Clifton Fisher and Fire District No. 3 Chief Mark Havener. MORE PHOTOS

Retired fire chief Doug Devoe, lieutenant Mark Colson, and firefighter Kyle Dennis of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 delivered the trailer and instructed the class. After a safety briefing, teams of three went into the blazing trailer to “gain control” of the fire. Once the fire trailer operator sees good technique, they stop the propane and the fire is out.

The portable trailer features three rooms with an on-board generator and smoke machine. Also attached are props for a basement, a rooftop and ventilation. The trailer also has operator-controlled flame height and on-board propane tanks with temperature monitoring and safety interlocks. The trailer operator can also instruct on the separate parts of a working fire. “The trailer is designed with safety of the students its first priority,” Colson said. “There are heat sensors that are triggered if the temperature reaches unsafe levels. There are emergency switches throughout the interior of the trailer. The scenario operator has a ‘kill’ switch that is operated by a foot pedal. If their foot is off, so is the flame.” Because the trailer uses propane, the fire is clean burning. Students can go inside and observe how fire moves. The trailer has a smoke-only setting that can give students the feeling of maneuvering in a smoke environment without the risk of live fire. The roof and basement props give firefighters the ability to train safely in those situations. Two gas-fired props create simulations of flashovers, interior and exterior attacks and search and rescue situations.

The students had a full day of practicing different scenarios. All of the students had the opportunity to be in every scenario role. Everyone had the chance to work the nozzle and lead an attack team. The Washington State Firefighters Association, commonly known as WSFFA, purchased the “Fireblast Trailer” in May of 2007, using donations.

Published in the Newport Miner - August 13, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Volunteers Take the Firefight Off Road

DIAMOND LAKE – The volunteer firefighting force at Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 will soon use a new six-wheel all-terrain vehicle with a hose and pump to douse wild land fires. Sandpoint Polaris delivered a Polaris Ranger Monday, Aug. 4, to fire district No. 3 after the district won a grant from the U.S. Tobacco Company. Fire chief Mark Havener said the district will use the ATV for wild land fire attacks as well as off-road emergency medical service rescues. Havener said the goal for the fire district is to equip the six-wheeler with tracks so that it can travel over snow. The piece of equipment allows firefighters to travel quickly throughout the district to deeply wooded areas where injured people or fires could otherwise not be reached by ambulance.
The ATV will also get an 80-gallon tank and pump, along with hoses and firefighting tools. Havener estimated it could take a week after receiving the ATV to get the vehicle ready for service. The Polaris Ranger can carry two passengers and is equipped with a truck bed for carrying additional supplies along with the water tank. The ATV has a 30-horsepower, gasoline engine and can tow a ton of weight.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner - Photo Courtesy of Firefighter Randy Pymm
Published in the Newport Miner - August 6, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Commissioners Douse Burn Control Proposal

NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County residents will need to book time on campsites approved by the Washington Department of Natural Resources if they want a summer fire for s’mores between June to October. The Pend Oreille County commissioners decided Monday, Aug. 4, against changing the county’s burning ordinances after a public hearing where county residents testified to their fears of a fire and desires for campfires. More than 30 residents sat or stood in the commissioners’ meeting room and identified themselves as for or against a proposed change to the county’s burning ordinances that would allow recreational fires on personal property when the state Department of Natural resources set a high fire danger level.

Speaking for the proposed change to allow campfires, Diamond Lake resident Debbie Harkness produced a letter with 60 Diamond Lake signatures supporting a change in the county ordinance. Harkness also said she had spoken to the commissioners who had signed the original 2003 ordinance. Former commissioner Mike Hanson confirmed that the commissioners’ intent in signing the ordinance was not to restrict recreational fires. Hanson, serving from 1992 to 2004, said he and other commissioners on the board believed the recreational fires were covered under Washington Administrative Code that governs small fires not requiring a burn permit. Former district No. 2 commissioner Sam Nicholas confirmed that the ordinance was meant to limit burn piles for yard waste, and in some instances, campfires. Hanson referred to Washington code that applies to small fires that do not require a written burning permit. A written burning permit is not required when the fire is a hand-built pile no larger than 4 feet in diameter being used exclusively for recreational purposes. The code also allows fires on beaches along with other similar areas free of flammable material. The code also limits the size of fires to 4 feet from July 1 to Oct. 15, and 10 feet from Oct. 16 to June 30. Under the code, recreational fires should also have a shovel and a minimum 5 gallons of water nearby. The code said an accessible body of water, a garden hose or other water supply may substitute for the 5 gallons. “In this instance, the state has done an adequate job of covering all the types of occurrences,” Hanson said. “A hot dog or marshmallow fire was always part of the culture up here.”

However, commissioner Ken Oliver explained the decision Monday, Aug. 4, would not allow fires on private property during a high fire danger level, whether DNR allows campfires on their approved sites. Oliver added that the commissioners were not going to recognize the Washington Administrative Code about the small fires, based on the testimonies given at the meeting. “We’re going to use the DNR guideline,” Oliver said. “There will be no burning.” The DNR restrictions on fires-in-approved-DNR-campgrounds-only usually lasts most of the summer and into the dry fall.

Speaking against the proposal, one Diamond Lake resident posed this question for the commissioners: If the county is already having a hard time enforcing current building permit laws or other burn rules, how can it enforce the size of the fire, as posited in the proposal? Other residents acknowledged the sheriff’s office had difficulty enforcing burn bans. Inspector Alan Botzheim said the sheriff’s office tries to respond to every call they get, but sometimes their responses can be delayed because the deputies are answering other calls. Botzheim said the sheriff’s office tries to educate people about burn ordinances. In the past, Havener has said he was unwilling to send volunteer firefighters to patrol fires. Hanson added that a resident could inundate a fire department with requests for permit for “marshmallow fires. ”One of the citizens speaking against the ordinance change was District 1 commissioner candidate Anthony Newcomb. Newcomb, father of four, explained that although his children love having a fire in the summer, even his 4-year-old understands that when fire danger signs go up, they are not allowed to burn. Among citizens gathered were Pend Oreille Fire District No. 2 fire chief Larry Pollock and fire district No. 3 fire chief Mark Havener. Speaking against the proposal, Pollock explained that during a recent series of fires, DNR was unable to send any aid to north county wildland fires. Pend Oreille County ordinances match county burn controls with the DNR burn controls. Recreational fires, along with any other burning, are disallowed in the county when DNR issues a high fire danger warning.

Pend Oreille County remains under a high fire danger level since June 30. DNR’s Northeast Region Fire Prevention Forester Guy Gifford said DNR typically implements those controls on DNR lands between mid-June to early October. According to DNR rules, no fires are allowed except those in DNR-approved campgrounds. DNR approves certain campgrounds within its wild lands, but DNR officials have said they do not approve private property because they lack jurisdiction over improved property. DNR’s policies allow recreational fires on approved campgrounds, like the Boy Scouts of America Carbon Lodge on Diamond Lake. Residents testified Aug. 4 that dispatchers did not understand whether private property owners could have a recreational fire. A Diamond Lake resident at the public hearing said a DNR dispatcher told him during the high fire danger level that he was allowed to have a recreational fire on his property. The commissioners later commented they didn’t believe the dispatchers at DNR understood the county’s ordinance. The commissioners issued a letter Tuesday, Aug. 5, to DNR in Colville that informs DNR that county ordinances follow DNR guidelines and restrictions in all unincorporated areas. The commissioners’ letter references the DNR’s automated hotline, which does not lead to DNR dispatchers. Pend Oreille County’s chief of communications Steve West told The Miner that Pend Oreille County dispatchers are informing residents that no fires are allowed, including recreational fires.

At the meeting Monday morning, most of the residents testifying identified themselves as Diamond Lake residents. County commissioner Laura Merrill noted only a few residents from the north of the county came to the meeting. Commissioner Dean Cummings echoed the sentiment, noting that whatever the commissioners decide will affect the entire county and not just the lake areas. “It’s more complicated than Diamond Lake or Sacheen Lake,” Cummings said.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - August 6, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

» JULY NEWS ARTICLES

District Accepts Merging Petition

DIAMOND LAKE – The fire commissioners of Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 accepted petitions from two other fire district Monday, July 28, to merge with District 3. Fire chief Mark Havener of District 3 said the next step for fire district Nos. 1 and 7 is to send ballot language to the Pend Oreille County auditor’s office by Aug. 12. The submitted ballot language will be the question posed to voters in each fire district in the November election.

Havener and the merging fire districts are waiting for clarification on how to state the levy equalization that state law requires in a fire district merger. Currently, District 3 pays 86 cents per thousand on a general levy. Fire district No. 7 pays 46 cents per thousand on its general levy. Fire district No. 1 pays 44 cents per thousand on a general levy and 25 cents per thousand on a special levy due to expire in 2010. The special levy would not be equalized to the rest of the districts in the merger. The state requires that the new district have a levy rate equal between the original districts. Havener said the projected budget for the merging districts uses a 75-cent per thousand budget. Havener said the commissioners of fire districts Nos. 1, 3 and 7 will begin meeting to establish plans in the event the voters in each district approve the merger. The fire district merger requires a greater than 60-percent approval vote in each district, except for fire district No. 3, which just accepted the petitions Monday.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - July 30, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Region Nine Gains Grant

NEWPORT – The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office awarded $29,100 to Region 9, comprised of fire agencies in Spokane, Lincoln, Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties. Region 9’s fire councils – fire and life safety, fire investigations and firefighter training – will use the funding to provide fire service-related training and resources to fire agencies within the region. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 chief Mark Havener said its firefighters use the regional trainings on an annual basis. Recently, Pend Oreille County’s volunteer firefighter force put some of its volunteers through training to become fire investigators. Other classes train basic firefighting and wildland firefighting. Region 9 also pays for educational materials for the public. Havener said many of the local agencies and Department of Natural Resources host instructors for each class. Then, Region 9 reimburses the class for instructor time and materials.

The Washington State Fire Service is divided into nine regions. The state grant funding helps build local capacity and provides additional resources. The State Fire Marshal office is a bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington State's firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.

Published in the Newport Miner - July 30, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Investigation Continues in Fourth of July Fire

IONE – Four origin-and-cause investigators continue to study the blaze that consumed the restaurant and home belonging to Ione residents Scott and Chris Baumgardner around 11 p.m. the Fourth of July. Although the log cabin still stands, everything else the Baumgardners had has been reduced to cinder. Fire investigators Chris Smith from Fire District No. 8 and Leonard Pielli from Fire District No. 3 began work on the fire Saturday, July 5. Two more origin-and-cause investigators from Spokane fire districts assisted Monday, July 7: investigator Gary McBride from Spokane Fire District No. 4 and origin-and-cause instructor Doug Bleeker from Spokane Fire District No. 9. Pielli and Smith lead the investigation, which collected the last written witness statements Monday afternoon, July 14.

Stone explained that all fires have a V-pattern, which points to the direction the fire came from. The Spokane investigators provided a fresh pair of eyes, adding their observations. Stone said generally the fire district that fought the fire shouldn’t investigate the fire, to prevent the fighting experience from influencing the investigation. The investigation has not determined whether there is a suspicion of arson. The cabin was posted with a “Under Investigation for Arson” sign for at least five days after the fire. Fire District No. 2 commissioner Rick Stone said the sign brought more witnesses to the investigation. The sign offered a $10,000 reward for information. If the district investigators determine there is a suspicion of arson, the investigation goes to the sheriff’s office.

Firefighters answered a call at 11:12 p.m. Friday, July 4, when the Baumgardners’ neighbors to the north phoned the dispatcher. Stone and fire chief Larry Pollock arrived first on the scene. Stone said he could see fire issuing from the front windows of the Cabin Grill when he arrived. The Baumgardners had escaped by then, clad only in what they wore to bed. Stone said the smoke had warned the couple. They escaped through a rear staircase. Stone’s wife brought clothes for the fire victims. Stone also saw bottle rockets with 6- to 8-inch charges on the grounds nearby.

By 11:30 p.m., about 31 volunteers from fire district No. 2, Metaline Falls Fire Department, Metaline Fire Department, Ione Fire Department and fire district No. 5 responded. Stone said the firefighting crew used four water tenders to shuttle water to the hydrant-less area, using two fire engines to combat the flames. Five Metaline Falls firefighters returned north to make sure other areas in the north county were covered. The fire was under control by 1 a.m., but fire crews doused hot spots until 3 a.m. Stone said the logs that make up the cabin are so dense that they don’t necessarily burn but insulate the fire. However, the material inside burned. “They lost all of it, all their records,” Stone said. “Their livelihood and their home are gone.”  Two volunteer firefighters stayed the night to guard the site until fire investigators could arrive the following morning.

While Smith and Pielli worked through Saturday to piece together the cause, Ione residents offered support as they drove by, Stone said. Ten to 12 residents stopped at the Baumgardners’ property to help the now-destitute couple. Further, the Lion’s Club arranged to restore the couple’s eye glasses, which were lost in the fire. Parishioners from Ione Baptist Church gave more than $2,000 to the Baumgardners as well.

The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies Kevin Olsen and Justin Peterson Monday, July 7, to investigate suspected arson. Inspector Alan Botzheim from the sheriff’s office said the preliminary reports show that the blaze was fireworks-related. Neighboring residents were shooting fireworks that evening, Botzheim said. Now, the district waits for the report to answer two questions: where did the fire start and what caused it.

The Baumgardners are staying in a travel trailer on their property, and residents continued to offer assistance. County commissioner Ken Oliver offered aid, he said, but the couple were still in too much shock at the time. The Cabin Grill, set across from the Ione airport grocery, originally served cold sandwiches. Just the week before, the owners purchased a new electrical grill to start offering hot sandwiches and burgers. Concerned residents may donate to the Baumgardners through the Fire District No. 2 Auxiliary at P.O. Box 355, Ione, WA 99139. Donations should be marked “Cabin Grill.”

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - July 16, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Fire Districts Seek Merger at Election

SACHEEN LAKE – Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 will host two informational meetings for public input on the merger of three south county fire districts. The first meeting will be held July 14 at 7 p.m. at Fire District No. 3’s station 31 on Highway 2 near Diamond Lake. The second meeting will be held July 28 at 7 p.m. at Sacheen Lake fire station No. 32 on Highway 211.

The public meetings will be held to answer questions from the fire commissioners and the public. District No. 3 Fire chief Mark Havener has invited the commissioners, leaders and community of fire district Nos. 1, 3 and 7 to attend.
Each meeting will include a discussion of ongoing consolidation efforts. Paperwork for the merger will be presented for the boards’ review. The paperwork includes an environmental impact statement and a petition for merger. Fire District No. 3 commissioners are expected to review the documents and then rule on those documents July 28.

Proponents of consolidating all the fire districts of Pend Oreille County cite benefits including improved levels of service, eliminating unnecessary duplicated efforts, increased effectiveness of resource deployment, improved grant opportunities, seamless operations and providing one point of contact for fire service delivery. This consolidation’s goal is to deliver consistent emergency service to every part of the south county. Early efforts to consolidate fire districts initially examined south Pend Oreille County as a target area. For more details, call the Fire District No. 3 fire station 31 at 509-447-5305.

Published in the Newport Miner - July 9, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Can I Get a Light? - County Ordinances Follow DNR Rules

NEWPORT - When campfire and dry weather season overlap, many Pend Oreille County residents wonder whether their summertime recreation fires are legal. According to the burning control ordinance for Pend Oreille County, whenever the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) imposes burning controls on Pend Oreille County land, the county commissioners direct identical burning controls on all lands under county jurisdiction without action by the commissioners. The sheriff’s office distributes high fire danger notices along with three DNR signs in the county: one near Diamond Lake, another near the Sacheen Lake fire station and another on Highway 20 near the Tiger Store.

Former Pend Oreille County commissioners Mike Hanson, Sam Nicholas and Mitch Brown adopted the burning control ordinance March 17, 2003. Since that time, DNR’s controls have directed county policy when it comes to allowing residents to host fires.

Fire danger ratings inform DNR which restrictions to set. There are five ratings: low, moderate, high, very high and extreme. At low and moderate, private property owners may set disposal fires, medium-sized fires primarily meant to burn away yard waste or old tree limbs. They may also have recreational fires used for cooking or warmth.

DNR forester Matt Castle, a Pend Oreille County resident, explained fire danger ratings are determined by remote weather stations reading temperature, humidity, wind and fuel moistures. At certain readings, the stations warn local districts what the rating is, and each manager determines the precautions.
Pend Oreille County currently faces the “high” rating. Two restrictions hit the county June 30: All burning is banned, and campfires are allowed in approved, designated campgrounds only.

Castle explained that the DNR burning restrictions depend on the decisions of Arcadia district manager Andrew Stenbeck. However, DNR’s Northeast Region Fire Prevention Forester Guy Gifford said DNR burning controls only apply within their jurisdiction, which is limited to wooded, unimproved lands. Castle said maintained areas, like lawns that are regularly watered or waterfront property, are outside of DNR jurisdiction.

Gifford said only certain campgrounds, like the Boy Scout’s Carbon Lodge campground on Diamond Lake, may have campfires because their grounds have been approved by DNR representatives. However, Gifford said, because the DNR has no jurisdiction on improved property – like a property owner’s front lawn with trees cleared, a watered lawn and fire pit – DNR cannot approve private campfire sites. Subsequently, the only campfires allowed during Pend Oreille County’s high fire danger are on campsites DNR representatives have visited and approved.
When the fire danger rating reaches “very high” and “extreme,” other restrictions can be implemented, limiting the use of equipment or motor vehicles. Those restrictions, industrial fire precaution levels, apply to wood workers or other forest industrial workers. Castle said those fire precaution levels disallowed the use of passenger vehicles on forestland for two weeks during the 1990s. Castle said the public rules could eliminate burning altogether – on approved, designated campgrounds or not – on DNR lands during a “very high” and “extreme” fire danger rating. The public use restrictions, applying from April to October, limit cigarette smoking on forestland to only within vehicles. The use of chainsaws would also follow the industrial precaution levels as applied by DNR. Through the county ordinance, the same restriction could be extended to all county land.

Fireworks may not be lit on DNR protected lands, Castle said. However, Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 chief Mark Havener said fireworks are not considered part of the burn ban on the county. They fall within a different ordinance for the county.

DNR has a two-pronged system to allow burning. For businesses burning piles bigger than 10 square feet, they may purchase a permit from DNR. Property owners fall under the second prong, “rule burning.” In the fall, spring or winter, property owners may burn a pile 10 square feet or smaller. Then, in the summer, property owners on DNR protected lands may have a 4-foot pile to dispose of yard waste. However, recreation fires have a size of 3 feet in diameter and in height. The recreation fires fall under “rule burning,” along with disposal fires.

Castle said DNR patrolled during the Fourth of July weekend, responding to about 15 fires. Out of the fires found, only five were property owners having fires during the burn ban. None of the fires were firework-started. Instead, 10 of the fires DNR responded to July 4-6 were started by the lightning storm Tuesday, July 1. Lightning-started fires may smolder for days after the rainstorm.

Property owners burning piles of yard waste or tree limbs during a high danger rating face a criminal citation of $185 minimum, Castle said. According to county ordinance, any person, firm or corporation violating those restrictions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, with a maximum term of 90 days or a maximum fine of $1,000. The burn ban is in effect until further notice.

Inspector Alan Botzheim from the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to six complaints within the county. However, none received citations. In one case, no fire was located. Havener explained the fire districts will be prepared for fire emergencies. Members of Pend Oreille County’s fire districts do not have the authority to issue citations, Havener said. Sheriff’s deputies can issue citations but do not carry equipment to put out the fires. Spokane and Stevens counties residents can still hold recreation fires. Castle explained that both counties have their own written ordinances similar to DNR’s own burning controls policy. However, the banning of recreation fires in Spokane and Stevens counties requires an action by the commissioners.

DNR has an automated system with daily updates on burn restrictions within counties at 1-800-323-BURN.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - June 9, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Two Districts Move to Merge

NEWPORT – Discussion of an idea to consolidate Pend Oreille County’s eight fire districts have moved two fire districts to begin the process of merging with Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3. Commissioners for fire districts No. 1 and No. 7 have begun drawing legal petitions to start the consolidation process. Fire chief Mark Havener of fire district No. 3 has continued to meet fire commissioners about the process and benefits of consolidating fire districts.

The fire commissioners for fire districts No. 1 and No. 7 will draw a petition to fire district No. 3, requesting the merger. Once fire district No. 3 approves the petition, each district will begin phrasing the question for the ballots in November. Fire district consolidations require 60 percent approval among the registered voters in an affected district.

Fire district No. 7 chief Bruce Coleman said his fire commissioners are filling out the information. Coleman said the greatest benefit to them is the increased coverage. Fire district No. 7 has nine volunteers, including Coleman. At times, the fire station has two volunteers available while the rest work jobs, leaving the district sometimes vulnerable. “If the residents get all the information, and they don’t see just the tax raise, it will pass,” Coleman said, adding that fire district No. 7 residents often wait for service from other fire districts during daytime hours. Coleman estimated residents currently pay $40 to $120 for their annual fire taxes. Consolidating may raise those numbers by 50 percent, Coleman said, but those funds will continue to cover the area within the fire district.

Fire District No. 1 commissioner Linda Vosahlo is also optimistic that residents in her fire district will vote the merger in. Vosahlo said fire district No. 1 commissioners have endorsed the consolidation plans. Fire commissioner Galen Hansen, the primary contact between Havener and fire district No. 1, was unavailable for comment before deadline.

The laws dictating how fire districts consolidate require the merging districts be adjacent, primarily through common borders. Havener said commissioners from fire district No. 4, between districts No. 3 and 6, indicated they will wait a year to observe the process before joining the merger. Logistically, this rule disqualifies fire district No. 6 from the merger by default, as it lacks a common boundary with fire district No. 3. Fire district No. 2, vocal in supporting the mergers, is also ineligible from the merger, as it only shares a boundary with fire district No. 5.

Havener will be holding a pair of open, public meetings for residents and fire commissioners to voice concerns. The first meeting is scheduled July 14 at 7 p.m. at the Diamond Lake Fire Station, and the second is scheduled July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Sacheen Lake Fire Station.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - June 11, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

» JUNE NEWS ARTICLES

What are we to do about fires?

Imagine this setting...It's the weekend after the 4th of July at Diamond Lake. The night air is cool and you have family and friends visiting. What a great time for a nice small fire and marshmallows and s'mores! The fire is lit and it is contained in a concrete and steel pit and there is nothing around that will cause the fire to spread. It gets late, the fire is completely extinguished and everyone goes to be without a worry.

Now, imagine this setting...It's the weekend before the 4th of July and the cabin next door is being rented out to some friends of the owners. The night air is cool, they have enjoyed swimming and skiing all day. they had a great meal and some adult beverages. What a great time for a fire to keep warm by with their favorite music in the background... Bob Marley maybe; a few more adult beverages and the camp chairs. The fire is lit and it is blazing! But it's just not big enough. Maybe a couple more logs. Then the wind picks up. The area around the hole in the sand hasn't been cleaned up and there is combustible natural materials all over the place. The wind is kind of chilly and everyone heads inside for the night.

I think you see where this is going!  911 is called, the fire department responds to a report of smoke in the area. The fire was no big deal this time. The people that built the fire and who were supposed to be watching the fire didn't think about putting it out when they went in. The firefighters remind them with some safety information and tell them to be safer next time. No big deal, the firefighters put out the fire and we go back to our station and to our homes.

Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 has been approached about allowing the first example of responsible fires by issuing permits for them. We are exploring the possibilities of this process. One of the difficulties we would face as both the fire department and the issuing agency of burning permits on improved property is the ongoing management, inspection and enforcement of a burn permit program. The second difficulty arises in that by establishing a burn permit program we would be required to permit ALL fires--not just the nice small responsible ones on Diamond Lake.

While we have seen many positive example of responsible burning with common sense applied, we also realize that there will be as many of the irresponsible and no common sense occurrences as well. These negative example will require our attention and enforcement of the burning permit process on a regular basis. This is something that the district and it's volunteers are not signed on to do.

We like to provide emergency service when it is needed. We want to be good stewards of your tax dollars and provide economical and efficient service with our volunteers. We are proud to serve you as well. So, what are we to do about fires?

After much discussion with members of the community and the fire commissioners, we feel currently that the regulations that are in place are the most cost effective and the most safe process that Fire District No. 3 can manage with a primarily volunteer staff. This does limit some recreational fires. As in the past summers, when the fire danger reaches the "HIGH" level, as determined by the Washington DNR, no fires will be allowed except in permitted sites.  More effectively this decision allows fires, without a permit, to occur at all other times in the year when the fire danger is below "HIGH". We feel that this is also a better example of less regulation and less government. While we know that there are a number of people who will not be satisfied with this decision we hope that our reasoning makes sense to the community we serve.

Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 is always welcoming new members. If you have an interest in volunteering with our winning team, please visit our website at www.pofd3.org or give us a call at 447-5305. There are many exciting benefits realized by being a member of our outstanding team.  Have a Safe Summer!

By Chief Mark Havener
Published in the Diamond Lake Improvement Association Newsletter

June 2008 RETURN TO TOP

Thank You Firefighters!

This is an enormous 'Thank You' to all the volunteers who fought the fire at Diamond Lake on Saturday, June 7th. You did such a tremendous job saving my home from the neighboring fire. We are very fortunate to have such skilled and dedicated volunteers. Also thanks to Chief Mark Havener for his leadership and expertise. I do realize how lucky I am to have my home and all my possessions. Some things simply can not be replaced and because of you, I still have all those important keepsakes. You are heroes who give up so much of your time and energy to protect us!

By Rhonda Thomas

Published in the Newport Miner - June 18, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Lake Cabin Lost - Neighbors Singed

DIAMOND LAKE – The closely placed homes on Diamond Lake became the intense battle ground for Pend Oreille Fire District Nos. 3 and 4 and Newport Fire Department after an overheating extension cord caught a garage on fire Saturday, June 7, at about 12:30 p.m. The fire destroyed the attached house, killed the homeowners’ dog and threatening to torch other homes and trees. The fire consumed the garage and attached two-story house, threatening neighboring structures. One house, less than 4 feet away from the engulfed garage, suffered significant damages.

A garage on Terrace Avenue, less than a minute from the Boy Scouts of America Carbon Lodge, was already suffering heavy fire and smoke when 10 volunteer firefighters from Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3, six volunteers from Pend Oreille Fire District No. 4 and four volunteers from Newport Fire Department arrived after the 12:49 p.m. call. Smoke was rising hundreds of feet in the area and was seen around the lake. Fire chief Mark Havener said the fire was progressing quickly, fully engulfing the garage by the time the first water hoses went to work. Just 4 inches to the east of full-time Diamond Lake residents Paul and Anita Moritz’s burning garage was the fence, and about 3 feet from the fence was the neighboring house.

The Moritz family was not home when the garage began to burn, except for a pet dog, Havener said. Structure on either side of the garage began to smoke, and fire traveled down the walkway to the lakefront house. “When you put houses that close together, all we can do from a strategy standpoint is focus on exposure fires, prevent it from spreading,” Havener said. Flames licked the neighboring house on the right, melting the siding and breaking apart windows. Crews from fire district No. 3 focused on limiting the loss to the original building. Burning cedar trees added to the heat in the air, also singing the shingles on the house to the west of the burning property.
Fire District No. 4 brought a 3,500-gallon water tender and a pair of fire engines with about 3,000 gallons of water between them.

Along with water damage and the lost siding, Havener estimated the house beside the garage suffered about $25,000 to $35,000 in damages. Even so, the building suffered no structural damage. Fire investigators discovered the cause was overloaded extension cords and multiple outlet strips that had overheated, igniting surrounding material. Property owners for both burned structures insured their properties. The property owners on the west of the burning property met with Havener and could not find damages yet. The main house itself was a total loss, including the walkway that carried the fire between the garage and the house. Havener estimated the house was valued at approximately $350,000 to $400,000, based on current waterfront property values.

At one point during the fire, the firefighting crew had to move the main 1,500-pound, water-charged hose from the street to the house. “We were prepared to go on to the next house to try and save it,” Havener said. “What the firefighters did Saturday was phenomenal.” Firefighter Dave Ainsworth was sent to Deaconess Medical Center for chest pains due to exertion, Havener said. Ainsworth, as of Monday, June 9, was in satisfactory condition, conscious and comfortable.
Crews managed to save both adjacent properties from the blaze, but several trees lost their foliage. The Moritz family spent the night in Spokane with friends. The husband, wife and daughter are in contact with the American Red Cross for support. Havener said it was fortunate for the neighboring homeowners that the fire happened on a Saturday. “If this happened on a weekday, we would have had less capability because of fewer volunteers available,” Havener said.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - June 11, 2008 RETURN TO TOP

District Delivers Smoke Detectors

SACHEEN LAKE – The Washington State Department of Health has provided a grant to Pend Oreille fire districts No. 3 and 4 to distribute 300 lithium smoke detectors and safety information to any families requesting them. The new smoke alarms, powered by a lithium battery, only need to be cleaned on a regular basis. The battery source is intended to last at least eight to 10 years. One goal of this program is to provide working smoke detectors for each sleeping area, free of charge, in community member’s homes.

Household fires took the lives of 3,380 people in 2002, according to a study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's U.S. Fire Administration.
Statistics point to a 50-percent reduction in fire fatalities since the introduction of smoke alarms into the home. Sixty percent of fatal fires occur in homes without smoke alarms or smoke alarms with dead or missing batteries. According to the FEMA report, structure fires accounted for 74 percent of the fatal fires in 2002. Of these fatal structure fires, 94 percent occurred in residences. Arson was the leading cause of fatal residential structure fires at 22 percent, followed closely by smoking at 21 percent.

Along with working smoke detectors, Pend Oreille fire districts No. 3 and No. 4 encourage the community to practice fire safety. Families should have a prepared and practiced fire escape plan. Pend Oreille County fire districts will be glad to come to residents’ homes and deliver a new smoke detector. Also, firefighters can provide additional information on the correct installation and maintenance of a smoke detector in the home. To get a smoke detector or replacement battery, call or stop by the local fire district or call 509-447-5305.

By Chief Mark Havener 

Published in the Newport Miner - June 11, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Serving with Pride - Motor Vehicle Accidents

Being a volunteer firefighter brings a wide variety challenges when the alarm goes off. Not only do we respond to fires, we also are the first responder for motor vehicle accidents. The use of our hydraulic rescue tools brings efficiency and speed to these rescues. Our volunteers are well trained in the use of these powerful tools and the safe use of them. By becoming a member of the fire district we provide this training and more for serving our community.   You can become a member of our winning team too! Please contact us through this website or for more information or call us 447-5305.

Safety Message for June: Wildland Fire Season will soon be here. One of the leading causes for wildland fires in Pend Oreille County is from human activities. Illegal burning is the leading cause in that category for many fire districts. While we try to inform our community on safe legal burning, we witness many burn barrels in the county. Burn Barrels are illegal in the state of Washington and cause many fires. Using a burn barrel is not only illegal, but also poses many health hazards as well. Being cited for a burn barrel can be expensive as well. Pend Oreille County has great waste disposal sites that will properly dispose of your trash at a very reasonable cost. Please use our solid waste disposal sites instead of burning.

By Chief Mark Havener 

Published in the Newport Miner - June 11, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Fire District Holds Yard Sale

SACHEEN LAKE – The Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 Firefighters Association will sponsor a community yard sale Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sacheen Lake Fire Station on Highway 211. The event will be held rain or shine. The firefighters offer either outdoor space or indoor table space for community members wishing to display and sell items they no longer need. All items cluttering up the attic or the garage are welcome. The firefighters association will provide the display space free of charge. The firefighters request that the yard sale participants make a small donation towards the firefighters association fund. Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 Firefighters Association is a non-profit group supporting firefighters and their families, assisting in community projects and raising money for special projects. To register for display space, call 509-447-5305 or e-mail the chief at mark@pofd3.org.

By Chief Mark Havener 

Published in the Newport Miner - June 11, 2008  RETURN TO TOP

Chief Aims for Ballots - Chief to Meet with Fire Commissioners

NEWPORT – After holding the first presentation in April, chief Mark Havener of Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 and No. 4, continues to meet with fire district commissioners to discuss consolidating the county’s eight districts and some city fire departments into a countywide fire district.

Havener said he’s continuing to send information to districts about the benefits of consolidating the fire districts. He and volunteers have begun circulating fliers to educate citizens, who may possibly vote on the issue. In Havener’s talks to commissioners, he has said he would like to have all of the commissioners in agreement before the end of the summer. That would give the commissioners time to submit the issue to the voters in this year’s general election. The deadline to submit a ballot issue is Aug. 27. Some of the fire districts’ commissioners have expressed their full support of consolidating the districts, Havener said. He has also received support from residents in the districts.

Fire commissioner Rick Stone of district No. 2 endorsed the idea at Havener’s original presentation. Fire district No. 2 recently constructed a station near Tiger. The district has seen fire insurance rates drop for residents because a new station is within a certain number of miles. With a single fire district, the county representatives would communicate with only one fire chief and one board of fire district commissioners. This would also give residents a single point of contact for their fire district.

During his first presentation, Havener shared a story he said happens too often in the county. With a volunteer firefighting force, many of the firefighters are working during the day. One call came in at 9 a.m., and no volunteers were available. Dispatch has to wait five minutes before calling a fire district with a mutual aid agreement to respond. Havener said it was a false alarm, but if it had been real, residents would have suffered an extra five minutes of waiting. Having a single district would necessitate the hiring of a full-time maintenance person to perform upkeep of the fire engines and equipment in all stations.

One limitation to smaller districts is the limits on borrowing money by issuing bonds. By state law, fire districts are only able to issue bonds worth up to 0.75 of a percent of their district’s assessed value. For example, fire district No. 3, with the highest assessed value of $267,477,070, could only issue a bond for about $2 million. If the existing eight districts merged, they could write a larger bond of $6.37 million.

Havener explained in his April presentation the process of merging the fire districts as laid in law by the state. One district, fire district No. 3, would be the “merged” district while the rest would be “merging” districts. As each district’s residents vote by super-majority to merge their district to fire district No. 3, each district’s commissioners and full-time, paid employees would retain a place in the new fire district.

With eight fire districts having three commissioners each, the newly merged district would have 24 commissioners. However, after two years, a third of those commissioners would not be able to run for reelection, leaving 16. Then, in another two years, the commissioner base would drop by a third again. Then, six years after the original merging decision was made, a completely new board of three or five commissioners would be sworn in. The former districts would not exist as a voting base. Rather, the commissioners would represent a third or fifth of the new fire district’s population.

The next steps would be for the districts to decide to pursue the merger, and each board of commissioners would write resolutions. Finally, the ballots would pose the question to Pend Oreille County residents in November.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - June 4 2008  RETURN TO TOP

EMS Truck Arrives

DIAMOND LAKE - Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 recently announced they have added a new vehicle to their fleet.
District No. 3 commissioners recently purchased a pre-owned medical response vehicle to serve the community. The unit was purchased from a broker in Bakersfield, Calif., for $38,000 with a new gurney.

The new Medic 31 is a 1999 Ford four-wheel drive chassis with a wheeled coach ambulance box. The new vehicle replaces a 1985 Ford ambulance the fire district had used. Fire district No. 3 members Don Thomson and Darrel Ainsworth traveled to California to drive the vehicle home. The station members at the Diamond Lake Station 31 are excited about the vehicle, chief Mark Havener said. It offers many more safety and comfort options that the old vehicle did not. With four-wheel drive, it also offers good maneuverability in the snow and off-road, if need be. The fire district thanks the community for making this purchase possible. The fire district purchased the ambulance with funds from the apparatus levy voters approved in 2006.

By Chief Mark Havener  - June 2, 2008 

Published in the Newport Miner - June 4 2008  RETURN TO TOP

How Does the Proposed Fire District Merger Really Affect Taxes?

This past week, Dave Fredley wrote a letter to the editor that warned the voters in our fire districts of the increase of property taxes as a result of any Fire District merger approval. I appreciate Dave bringing up the issue of what a fire district merger will cost. Dave had many true statements in the letter, but I felt it was necessary to provide some clarification as to the true impact on property taxes.

Fire districts in the State of Washington rely almost completely on property taxes to generate funds to provide for the operation of fire and EMS service delivery.  Those taxes are set at rates as approved by the voters in those districts. Those rates do vary greatly depending on the level of need that the fire district demonstrates and asks the voters to approve.

The projected budget that I developed used a rate of .86/ $1000 as an example for what the consolidated district might expect to expend on an annual basis on a line item budget. This budget included additional part-time and full time staff to effectively maintain, manage and deliver service to the community. The budget also was an attempt to demonstrate the efficiencies that would be realized as a result of the merger.  

Dave mentioned that property taxes would increase. In some districts this increase could be 3 times the current rate. That is correct. Why the increase? What does that increase really represent?

The consolidated fire district would seek an increase (the amount of the levy has not been established) as required by law. This allows for each property owner to pay the “fair share” of the operational costs regardless of location. In turn they all would receive the same level of service through the consolidated fire district.

The actual cost and the associated increase to the taxpayer is an increase only on the fire district tax. This increase doesn’t increase any other portion of your annual property tax liability.

As an example, FD 3 currently has an approved tax rate of .86/ $1000 of assessed property value. As a result of property value increases and the limitations set by state law, our collected rate in 2008 is .67/$1000. This year, in FD 3, a property with a value of $100,000 pays $5.58 per month for fire and EMS service. I have examined different rates of taxation to fund the consolidated district and have determined that we will likely request a levy rate of .75 to .80 ¢. At a rate of .80/ $1000 the same taxpayer will pay $6.66 / month, an increase of only $1.08 per month! That is an annual increase of only $12.96! Pretty cost effective when you have an emergent need and want the Big Red Fire Truck with a full compliment of trained firefighters or a fully trained and licensed ambulance to arrive at your door!

Let’s also look at one of the fire districts where we might experience a larger increase.

Pend Oreille Fire District No. 8 currently collects .45/$1000 of taxes on assessed value. A $100,000 property pays $3.75 per month for fire service. They have an approved rate of .75 ¢. Under the consolidated district, those same property owners, at a rate of .80/ $1000 would pay the same $6.66 as FD 3 and have an increase of only $2.91 per month or $35.00 per year. That’s less than many of us pay for phone, electric or TV service monthly. Still, quite possibly the best bargain in public service in the county!

The increases in taxes that come with the merger of the fire districts bring the assurance of an increase in service delivery and efficient use of the tax payers dollar. The consolidated district will provide a higher level of service to the area, and deliver that service in a more efficient manner. 

Efficiency is not only measured with dollars and cents. In efficiency studies we examine the best delivery of service, using the closest resource, not the one that lies inside a political boundary. We also examine delivery statistics for response time, dollars saved and cost of delivery. All of these elements are expected to improve over the current fragmented system.

I welcome additional inquires into the merger process and all that is included as we travel down that path. I can be reached at FD 3; 447-5305, or at FD 4; 447-2476. We have prepared an informational brochure that will provide additional information on the consolidation that is available through the fire district. The Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3 website, www.pofd3.org, provides information on the consolidation as well. Thanks for caring, Mark Havener

Letter to the Editor Response by Chief Mark Havener - Fire Districts 3 and 4
June 2, 2008 RETURN TO TOP

» MAY NEWS ARTICLES

Fire District Consolidation Will Cause Increased Taxes

To the editor:

Your editorial in the May 7 issue of the Miner requires additional information that the public needs to know. The unification of the fire districts in Pend Oreille County will have substantial cost increases to the taxpayer. State law requires that fire districts included in unification have equalized tax levy rates. Under the plan proposed by the fire chief of district No. 3, the levy rates in all fire districts except for district No. 4 will increase to match those in district No. 3. And these increases will be significant.

For fire districts No. 2 and 3, the levy will go up approximately 25 percent; for district No. 6 the levy will increase 42 percent; for districts 1, 7, and 8, the levy will almost double; and for district No. 5 the levy will almost triple! This is real money and we will pay it forever.

The question needs to be asked, if this plan makes the unified fire districts so efficient, why will the cost be so high?

Your editorial also suggests that full-time management; for all districts is a reason to merge. This suggests that volunteer fire chiefs are less than "full time." This is not the case. Many of these unpaid chiefs work more--much more--than 40 hours a week in that position.

Letter to the Editor: David Fredley - Newport
Published in the Newport Miner - May 14, 2008 RETURN TO TOP

OUR OPINION County Fire District Worth Study

Last week, Pend Oreille  County fire district officials started discussing the pros and cons of forming a countywide district and eliminating the patchwork of eight small fire districts. We believe the idea has merit and should be aggressively reviewed during the next few months. Property owners should take a close and open-minded look at the proposal.

Mark Havener, the full-time paid fire chief for districts No. 3 and 4, has been an excellent leader of his district. He has taken the initiative to advance this district far above and beyond his duties. Havener has carefully thought this proposal through and is taking the lead to explain the advantages and disadvantages. He is the right person for this and everyone should take the time to listen.

There are obvious reasons to merge - standardized training and equipment maintenance are just a few. Full time management for all districts is another. there are also some things that would have to be worked out; but so far none seem to be deal breakers.

We believe that this must also be the time to work out coverage of the areas now not covered by any fire department; under any merger they should be covered.

This won't be an easy undertaking; small volunteer fire districts are important to each community they serve and won't go away without a better program to replace it. That is the way it should be and so far this might be it.        --FJW

Published in the Newport Miner - May 7, 2008 RETURN TO TOP

Sheriff Mentions Dispatch Contracts

NEWPORT - Pend Oreille County officials are at least thinking about the possibility that fire districts may be asked to pay for their dispatch services in the future. However, they emphasized recently that no formal discussions have begun and no plans have been made.

Pend Oreille County sheriff Jerry Weeks discussed the issue briefly with the county commissioners at their March 24 meeting. Weeks recommended the commissioners talk to the fire district commissioners.

Weeks told the Miner no plans have been made and no bilateral talks have begun. Instead, Weeks said, he made the comment to pose the hypothetical situation before county budget plans were made.

Currently, property tax dollars and state assistance pay for the operation of the fire district's service. The state of Washington's Military Department Emergency Management Division 9-1-1 section pays for about 50 percent of the county dispatch service costs which includes, law enforcement and fire and medical, chief of communications Steve West said. The other half of the cost is paid from Pend Oreille County's current expense fund.

Emergency management director JoAnn Boggs explained a referendum passed in 1996 allowed Pend Oreille County to construct and install a dispatch center for the county. Boggs said discussion about charging user fees to the fire districts began even when the center was going up. However, Boggs said elected officials chose not to pursue it. The independent, fire districts have smaller tax bases with little ability to produce funds for dispatch services.

At a meeting Thursday, April 24, where fire commissioners and county residents gathered to discuss the possibility of consolidating the county's eight districts, the possibility of paying user fees to the dispatchers was considered.

"We realize nothing's free," fire chief Mark Havener said April 4. Havener serves both Pend Oreille fire districts No. 3 and No. 4.

Havener said he discussed the possibility of contracting dispatch services with other members of the county. A unified fire district could negotiate a competitive price and the possibility of having a better chance at competitive grants would reduce the overall cost of fire service in the county. A rough draft of the merged district's budget included paying $20,000 for dispatch fees.

Havener pointed out if fire districts stand separately, the dispatch service would need to decide on a fair formula to charge for service.

Any discussion to unify the fire districts to a single district also includes keeping stations open and maintaining the volunteer force. Volunteers save the fire districts millions of dollars in wages. Property tax payers would still support the fire as they picked up the contracts. Havener said, possibly through levies. Havener said contracting with the county for dispatch services would make the fire districts a stakeholder in the county's dispatch services, a revenue source for the county.

Weeks said he hadn't discussed the possibility of contracting fire dispatch services with Havener. "There isn't anything happening and no decisions have been made." Weeks said, adding that if any discussions began, they would discuss the cost formula then.  However, Weeks stressed there are no active efforts to form contracts with the fire districts to purchase dispatch services from the junior taxing districts.

By Youssef Sleiman of The Miner
Published in the Newport Miner - May 7 2008 RETURN TO TOP

» APRIL NEWS ARTICLES

Boater Education Classes Offered at Diamond Lake

Diamond Lake Improvement Association is sponsoring the mandatory boating safety education class here at Diamond Lake.  It will take place at the Fire district No. 3 Diamond Lake Station on Highway 2 on Saturdays, May 30, and June 7.  Starting time is 9:00 a.m. and it should last less than five hours. The cost is $16.00 which includes $6.00 for materials and $10.00 which goes to the state for the required Card.  Contact Geri Guinn at 447-3597 or gguinn@surf1.ws for your required reservation.

Published in the DLIA Newsletter - April 2008 RETURN TO TOP

Fire Chief Shares Vision at Meeting with County Residents

SACHEEN LAKE – Pend Oreille County residents gathered at the Sacheen Lake fire station to hear a presentation meant to answer this question: What if Pend Oreille County had one fire district instead of eight?

Fire chief Mark Havener from Pend Oreille Fire District Nos. 3 and 4 presented the concept of consolidating the county’s eight fire districts to a crowd of about 40. The audience included two county commissioners and a majority of the fire district commissioners.

Havener’s presentation addressed reasons, logistics and fears of consolidation, ending with a question-and-answer session.

One reason to hold the presentation now was to acquaint the commissioners in different parts of Pend Oreille County with the possibility. Another was to capture the timing: as 2008 is an election year and the merger can only occur with a vote of the people, the consolidation could happen this year. Aug. 27 is the deadline to submit an issue to be placed on the county ballots.

Havener’s 90-minute presentation described a vision of one fire district serving Pend Oreille County to acquaint meeting attendees with the whys and hows of consolidation. The audience listened to the entire presentation with only a few questions interrupting.

Havener shared many benefits of the consolidation, which he explained was not his commissioners’ vision, though they support his efforts. “Some people have accused me of building a kingdom. I don’t need a kingdom,” Havener said. “I already have the best job in Pend Oreille County and work with the best firefighters.”

Benefits of Unity
With a single fire district, the county representatives would only need to deal with one fire chief and one board of fire district commissioners. Havener said many chiefs think differently, which can slow down communication between county commissioners and the fire chief. This would also give residents a single point of contact for their fire district.

A merging of fire districts would also eliminate the duplication of service and make more effective dispatching of resources to incidents.

Havener shared a story he said happens too often in the county. With a volunteer firefighting force, many of the force are working during the day. One call came in at 9 a.m., and no volunteers were available. The dispatch has to wait five minutes before calling a fire district with a mutual aid agreement to respond. Havener said it was a false alarm, but if it had been real, residents would have suffered an extra five minutes “on the worst day of their lives.”

Havener later told The Miner a merged district could not reduce coverage in one area to serve another, except in the case of a catastrophic event, like a major wilderness fire. Havener said he would rely on the cooperation and integration of the Ione, Metaline and Metaline Falls fire departments to support volunteer needs in the north county to prevent south county volunteers from having to drive to a fire in the north county.

A single district would improve the cost efficiency by spreading the costs through the district and allow more effective distribution of trucks, apparatus and utilities firefighters need. It could also improve the district’s ability to build fire stations.
Fire commissioner Rick Stone of fire district No. 2 endorsed the idea. Fire district No. 2 recently constructed a station near Tiger. The district has seen fire insurance rates drop for residents because a new station is within a certain number of miles.

“We have folks who’ve realized a 50-percent decrease in insurance,” Stone said, adding that a consolidated district would be able to put more stations closer to those expanding neighborhoods.

Having a single district would necessitate the hiring of a full-time maintenance person to perform upkeep of the fire engines and equipment. This benefit would spread throughout the county as the maintenance performed would assist all of the stations.

One limitation to smaller districts is the limits on borrowing money by issuing bonds. By state law, fire districts are only able issue bonds worth up to 0.75 of a percent of their district’s assessed value. For example, fire district No. 3, with the highest assessed value of $267,477,070, could only issue a bond for about $2 million.

If the existing eight districts merged, they could write a larger bond of $6.37 million.

Other Options
Early in the presentation, Havener covered three other options available to the county.

A functional consolidation between districts could be achieved with contracts and mutual aid agreements. As one example of a functional consolidation, fire districts No. 3 and No. 4 currently share a fire chief through a contract. A partial consolidation among the fire districts would involve special services being performed jointly, as in the educational efforts performed by the Pend Oreille Fire and Life Safety Cooperative. The cooperative educates students at high schools during fire safety months.

Havener also pointed out fire districts could maintain the status quo: some agencies thriving and some struggling.