Timberlake fire chief resigns

ATHOL - Kevin Kleinworth has resigned from the Timberlake Fire Protection District after more than two years on the job.

"Kevin Kleinworth has resigned from the fire district to pursue other opportunities," Commissioner Rudy Rudebaugh said on Friday night. "We wish him well in all of his future endeavors. Beyond that, this district is not at liberty to discuss this personnel matter."

Rudebaugh said Kleinworth will receive three months of severance pay as called for in his employment agreement.

Kleinworth, 46, declined to comment on whether he wanted to leave the district and on his experience at Timberlake.

"I'm not allowed to comment on any details, but I did resign and it wasn't for any misconduct," he said.

Kleinworth's resignation was effective on Wednesday and the district board accepted his resignation during a special meeting on Thursday night. Kleinworth was not at the meeting, but he was represented by an attorney.

Kleinworth, who lives in the Coeur d'Alene area, said he'd like to continue working with the fire service.

"I've got a lot of years left in me," he said. "I'd love to stay here. My family loves it here."

Rudebaugh said Timberlake, which covers the Athol and Bayview areas, will immediately begin the process of searching for a new chief.

Kleinworth was placed on paid administrative leave by the district on July 2 - three days before the Cape Horn Fire near Bayview.

Kleinworth has 27 years of wildland fire experience.

Rudebaugh earlier said that he wants to make it clear that Kleinworth is not a suspect in the fire. He also said a rollover last month involving a Timberlake Fire engine also had nothing to do with placing Kleinworth on administrative leave.

Both of the occupants in that crash were not injured and have returned to work after also being placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

The crash occurred when the engine was returning non-code from a medical emergency.

The engine was approaching Waller Road when it entered into a left-hand curve too fast, causing the engine to roll over onto the passenger side, according to Idaho State Police.