Whitefish to ask for fire staff expansion

Acknowledging a drastic drop in the number of volunteer firefighters in recent years, the Whitefish City Council on Monday agreed to call for a levy election to fund around-the-clock fire and emergency-medical service.

"We're not talking about a luxury item; it's safety," council member Ryan Friel said. "It's kind of scary a city this size doesn't have 24/7 service."

Cities with populations of 10,000 or more are required to provide around-the-clock fire and ambulance service. With a current estimated population of close to 8,000, the resort town is on track to reach the benchmark within the next few years.

The Whitefish Fire Department provides fire and ambulance service to a 100-square-mile area, but has seen its number of volunteers drop from more than 30 a decade ago to just eight volunteers today.

If voters approve the levy, the additional tax revenue would allow the city to hire six additional firefighter/paramedics and expand the department to have three rotating shifts of four emergency-service workers on each shift, with two "floaters" to cover leave time.

Currently the department is staffed with the fire chief, fire marshal and eight firefighter/paramedics, allowing daily shift work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a call-out system during night hours.

The need for around-the-clock service is warranted, City Manager Gary Marks said, given the increasing number of night calls. In 2001 the department responded to 432 night calls; that number has doubled since then, to a projected 860 night calls this year.

Response times are longer during the night - typically about 10 minutes - because firefighters are responding from home. Daytime response times are about three minutes.

Council member Turner Askew said Whitefish's growing population of elderly residents will need enhanced fire and rescue service.

"I want them to be rested when they come see me," he said.

Firefighter Scott Alexander said the department is redefining volunteer firefighter/paramedic duties to better utilize the manpower.

"We're a group that adapts well to shortcomings, but it's time" for 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service, he said.

There are a number of reasons for the drop-off in volunteer numbers, firefighters said. Training requirements have increased, people have busier lifestyles and the job often requires being on call several nights a week. And with more night calls, it's difficult for volunteers who work at other jobs during the day.

"It's a huge task," said Tom Kraus, a volunteer firefighter for the past 11 years, noting that on Sunday night he got his first call at 11 p.m., worked until 4 a.m. and then had to get up and go to work the next morning.

The levy, if approved, would raise about $464,000 a year. It would be an ongoing assessment, costing homeowners about $100 to $150 a year or more depending on the assessed value of their home.

If the levy fails, the city will continue to look for grant money to pay for the enhanced service. A $500,000 federal grant that would have helped the city make the transition and offset costs for five years fell through two weeks ago, but Marks said the city will reapply.

Several council members noted that public outreach will be needed to gain community support for the levy. The request will be conducted with a vote-by-mail election, tentatively planned for mid-August.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com