City begins search for new fire chief

The City of Columbia Falls is determining whether or not to hire another full-time fire chief.

Since 2004, the City has hired and fired two fire chiefs. Douglas Nash held the position for about nine months until he was terminated in October of 2004. Then in June 2005 Bob Webber was hired to fill the open position. Webber spent about three years leading the Columbia Falls Volunteer Fire Department before being let go last month.

The City Council Monday began forming a committee to search for a new chief, but first some Council members voiced concerns about whether hiring a full-time chief is the right step.

“I’m concerned that twice now we’ve had that and it’s not gone anywhere,” said councilman Mike Shepard.

Councilman Doug Karper asked if the City is required to have a full-time chief.

“The fire chief position is a full time paid position — do we want that?” Karper asked the Council.

City Manager Bill Shaw said the City is not required to employ a full-time chief, but he does recommend it because of the work load.

The fire chief job oversees 30 volunteer firefighters. Duties include establishing policies, preparing an annual budget, responding to alarms and directing emergency scenes, conducting fire investigations and overseeing recruitment and training of personnel.

Shaw said being chief is not like it may have been 20 years ago, “Being chief now is complicated.” He noted that the chief needs to be available during business hours as well as responding to calls, which might not be possible for a volunteer to do.

The Council directed its public safety committee, the rural fire department board and members of the Firefighters Association to meet to suggest the next step. That could be going forward with a search for a new chief or modifying the job in some capacity.

Monday the Council also voted to approve Jesse Best in the position of interim fire chief. He had previously served as assistant fire chief and is an air operations supervisor with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).

Brad Peterson will take over as assistant chief.

The Council also voted to temporarily modify the job description for fire chief so that only building inspections based on immediate necessity need to be performed. Also his stipend was increased from the $408 per month rate in 2004 to $450 per month starting June 1.

Best, Peterson and volunteer firefighter Josh Provo were all sworn in Monday night.