By JAMES FREHLING
In spring 2010, the Wood River Fire Protection District joined with the cities of Hailey and Bellevue to discuss ways that our three agencies could work more closely together for a more cooperative fire service in the community. The result was a decision to bring in Emergency Services Consulting International, which provided an objective look at existing resources and how we operate. The firm made recommendations as to how we could "work more closely together through cooperative efforts, consolidation, or unification while maintaining or enhancing the quality of Fire and Emergency Medical Service delivery in a cost-effective manner."
Emergency Services Consulting International presented its findings in a 350-page document, paid for by Hailey and the Fire District, with Bellevue participating. In addition to its recommendations, it suggested an implementation strategy, with which the Fire District agreed and has followed.
We are disappointed that the results of the effort have been misrepresented in statements to the Idaho Mountain Express. I would like to set the record straight for property owners in the district.
- Sustainability: In a story in the Aug. 10 issue of the Idaho Mountain Express titled "Hailey outlines collaboration efforts for fire departments," Hailey Fire Chief Mike Chapman stated that "none of the three departments in the south valley is sustainable in the long term." While I am not sure about his department or Bellevue's, the Fire District's financial future is solid. As readers may know, the Fire District is already partnered with the Ambulance District through a contract for service to the south county. We are efficient and have significant financial reserves with little long-term debt.
- New pumper: The Aug. 10 story states that "the Hailey City Council authorized the purchase of a new truck for the Hailey Fire Department." Chapman's statement to the Express was that it is "one of five fire trucks the city needs to replace in the next five years." I do not see how buying a new fire truck will make Hailey Fire sustainable, but noticeably, it directly contradicts the consultant's recommendations that under a cooperative effort there are already enough engines in and around Hailey to provide insurance ratings benefit to property owners and to provide adequate response capability. Hailey Fire would not need to replace its Engine 3 if it is retired. Unfortunately, it suggests to us that Hailey has chosen to ignore the consultant's advice and maintain the status quo of separate, expensive and duplicate fire departments.
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- Automatic aid: In a recent letter from Chief Chapman to his mayor and city council, he called for "the resumption of Wood River Fire and Rescue's participation in the south county automatic aid agreement." It's important to point out that, in fact, the Fire District currently enjoys automatic-aid agreements with Ketchum, Carey, Bellevue and Friedman Memorial Airport. The only jurisdiction with whom we share a border but do not have automatic aid is Hailey. This is because Chief Chapman insisted that in the event of any structure fire in Hailey, our full-time staff not respond in an engine from our staffed station in Hailey, but instead drive to another station to get a ladder truck. Our full-time shift personnel, eight of nine of whom own homes in Hailey, who were asked to drive away from or sometimes pass a burning structure, found this to be unconscionable.
The Fire District has offered to automatically respond with the most "appropriate" apparatus to structure fires in Hailey, which has been consistently rejected by Chief Chapman. However, the ladder truck is not a good substitute for a rapid response from a staffed station. We have offered to send both and currently supply either under mutual aid to Hailey.
- Recommendations: The Hailey City Council approved several recommendations that were proposed by their chief. Unfortunately, they bear little resemblance to the ones proposed by Emergency Services Consulting International. We have always known that fire and EMS services could run much more effectively and efficiently than they are now. Our intent was that the study lay the groundwork and a clear path forward. It is apparent that the cities of Bellevue and Hailey have chosen differently.
We will continue to provide our current high level of service expected by ratepayers in the district.
James Frehling is a commissioner of the Wood River Fire Protection District.
