North Summit Fire reports hires, new station activation and flood-response support

The North Summit fire chief told the Council of Governments the district has added personnel and is expanding its operational footprint.

The chief said the department is hiring conservatively because of budget constraints but recently added four captains and three full-time firefighters; if plans proceed the district will staff a second station in Wanship on April 1 with two personnel and improved coverage in Colville. “If everything goes according to plan, April 1, we’ll stand up our second station in Wanship, and we’ll have 2 personnel there and 4 firefighters in Colville,” the chief said.

The department has faced turnout-gear supply-chain delays but is budgeting for those needs. The chief also described flood-response assets: an outfitted flood trailer with sump pumps and other equipment, a cache of 30 bags for initial attack and daily firefighter efforts filling sandbags in several locations. He reported arrangements to place a sand pile at the bottom of Tollgate to support remote neighborhoods and said crews have assisted residents who cannot fill bags themselves.

The chief said engines are crewed with AEMTs and paramedics and carry heart monitors, and credited the staffing changes with faster response times and improved EMS capability. He invited questions and received congratulations from council members for the staffing and station progress.

No formal action was taken; the chief’s report was accepted as informational.