Timberlake fire plan draws crowds

ATHOL - The Timberlake fire chief's plan that took nearly all of the district's fleet out of service for inspections under national safety standards has drawn both praise and smoke, but the program continues.

Commissioners of the district, which serves the Athol, Bayview and Careywood areas, held back-to-back meetings this week that drew standing-room-only crowds of about 150 at both.

After hearing public testimony, the commissioners did not stop Chief Jack Krill's inspection plan that started Wednesday.

"(The meetings) were a chance for the public to vent," Commissioner Jon Guinn said.

Guinn said commissioners are even unsure whether the district must abide by national safety standards. That topic will be discussed on March 15 at a site to be determined.

Commissioners have also invited an attorney to that meeting to discuss the duties of both Krill and the board.

"To me, it's pretty simple," he said. "The fire chief has the responsibility to run the day-to-day operations. Our responsibility is to manage the budget, make sure the chief has money to do his job, then let go."

Meanwhile, Krill's plan to pay for a certified inspector to review the fleet, estimated to cost roughly $8,000, not including repairs and parts, continues.

The move meant taking 17 vehicles out of service and temporarily not having a vehicle available at five of the district's six stations. It left just one engine, two ambulances owned by Kootenai County and the fire boat in service.

"He admits it was a little radical, but in my opinion, it was extremely courageous and it has the interest of firefighters at heart," said Guinn, also a volunteer firefighter.

Krill did not respond to messages seeking comment on Thursday or Friday.

Guinn said that, contrary to some opinions, he doesn't believe district residents were more at risk when the vehicles were grounded.

"The service to the public was not changed because we could still arrive in a timely manner and there's so much mutual aid from other districts," Guinn said. "Not a single member of the public lost any service, but our firefighters were safer."

The decision has support from the district's firefighter union.

Opponents, however, believe the move was a publicity stunt to persuade voters into floating a levy this year for more district funding and that many of the fleet and facility problems can be taken care of with simple fixes that don't require board approval.

As a result of the inspections this week, the station near Careywood, in addition to the main station in Athol, is now open, according to the district's Web site. At least three vehicles have been brought back into service, but need repairs.

Krill earlier said his lingering safety concerns escalated when he recently took an engine for a test drive and the accelerator became stuck before the potential of disaster was averted.

Guinn said the public - not Krill nor the board - will decide on whether to float a levy to the voters.

Public input meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on March 3 at the Bayview Community Center, March 4 at the Athol Community Center and March 18 at the Athol Community Center.

Krill has suggested discussing a $500,000 permanent levy override, which would cost the average homeowner in the district about $72 per year for five years, to bring the district's fleet and facilities up to code.

Commissioners will likely decide in April whether to float a levy on May 25.