Kootenai County Fire and Rescue chief resigns

Chris Way, five-year fire chief of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, is moving on.

Way's resignation was accepted during a special meeting of the KCFR commissioners at 3 p.m. today at their headquarters, 5271 E. Seltice Way.

Way said he has accepted a job as an EMS chief in South Carolina. His final day with KCFR will be Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Pete Holley was named interim chief.

"It’s an honor they chose me," he said. "I was a little bit of an unknown coming into the meeting."

The change in leadership comes a month after the June 29 shooting at Canfield Mountain that killed two firefighters and badly injured a third. 

"We’re in the early stages of healing," Holley said.

Jeryl Archer, division chief of prevention and fire marshal, was named as Holley's fill-in.

Way said he will miss the people he has worked with and was honored to be fire chief, but is looking forward to the opportunity to lead a large urban EMS system.

"I'm excited," Way said Thursday.

Way is scheduled to speak at the South Carolina EMS Association Leadership Conference Sept. 24-26. According to the association's social media post, Way will address, "Advocacy, A Must Have in EMS," a session focused on "why advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels is more important than ever."

Prior to being KCFR chief, Way was chief of the Kootenai County EMS system for seven years.