East Side Fire has new chief

There has been a change of command in the East Side Fire District.

Longtime fire chief Jim Walton recently retired, and the fire district's board of commissioners selected Doug Allman, a firefighter with the volunteer fire and medical district for 11 years, to replace Walton as chief.

A University of Idaho graduate, Allman served 28 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army before returning to Lake Coeur d'Alene. He previously served East Side Fire as lieutenant and captain.

The retiring Walton, who was born and raised in Coeur d'Alene, began volunteering with the fire district not long after it was formed in 1994. At that time, Walton had retired from working, and moved with his wife, Alohae, to Echo Bay after selling their business, Walton's Auto Supply.

Under Walton's guidance, East Side Fire grew from a two-station operation with older, well-maintained vehicles and equipment on loan from Idaho Department of Lands, to a three-station, modern emergency force using new, state-of-the-art vehicles and support equipment. As a result, the district's fire rating improved, benefiting homeowners with lowered insurance rates.

There is other continuing evidence of Walton's positive impact on East Side Fire.

Emergency medical capability was added on Chief Walton's watch. Two new well-stocked medical response vehicles and trained personnel to aid those in need are on call. A new vehicle equipped with an array of specialized tools for vehicle extrication is staffed by trained personnel.

Upgrades and refinements keep the equipment in top shape and a vigorous training schedule maintains the proficiency of the roughly volunteers of East Side Fire District.