Whitefish fire chief leads transition to new EMS center

Members of the Whitefish Fire Department plan to make the current Whitefish Fire Station sign into a picnic table that will sit on the patio at their new headquarters.

It’s a literal way to carry their memories with them as they move to the new Whitefish Emergency Services Center, due to be completed in June. And it’s a fitting example of the department’s adeptness at blending old and new.

At the helm of this major transition is Whitefish Fire Chief Tom Kennelly.

In his 13 months on the job, he has already earned the department’s respect as a leader, helping the force adjust to the recent switch to 24-hour fire and ambulance service and preparing for the move from the downtown building that has housed Whitefish firefighters for about a century.

Arriving in November 2008 from Colorado, the Illinois native succeeded longtime Fire Chief Dave Sipe. Kennelly has more than three decades of experience in fire, rescue and emergency services.

It’s hard to picture Kennelly in a suit and tie behind a desk, but that was part of his past life as a certified public accountant for 17 years. These days he’s more comfortable in his zip-up pullover that reads “Chief” across the breast. Kennelly is 63, but says he feels like he’s 18.

Although being a firefighter was a “boyhood dream,” Kennelly first decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and go into accounting. After returning from a two-year stint in the military in Vietnam, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and later got a second degree in fire-science management.

Kennelly worked as an accountant full time, but still had time to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District.

And his persistence paid off. He eventually began fighting fires full time and became the district’s first full-time chief.

Kennelly never looked back.

“The fire service itself is a family,” said Kennelly. “You don’t get that in an office.”

He said he has fond memories of bringing his family to join other families at the station during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays so everyone could be together. He and his wife, a retired teacher, have been married for 37 years. They raised three daughters, two of whom have entered into public service as well.

With his extensive experience and expertise, Kennelly has gained the respect of his colleagues.

“I’m impressed with his knowledge of the fire service,” said Fire Marshal Doug Loy, who has been with the department since 1977. “We’ve been in our own little world here, and he has brought in a lot of new knowledge that has been advantageous.”

He said Kennelly’s level of experience helped with the transition to his new position. According to both Kennelly and Loy, it went pretty smoothly.

“He’s done an outstanding job,” said Scott Miller, 44, a volunteer who moved to Whitefish a year ago after serving 25 years as a firefighter in Wenatchee, Wash.

Another positive for Whitefish has been the shift to around-the-clock service.

Previously the station’s eight firefighters were stretched thin before a levy passed that allowed the city to hire seven additional firefighter/paramedics, expanding the department to three rotating shifts of five on each shift.

“It’s been very positive,” Kennelly said of the system that has been in place since May. “Morale has greatly increased and it’s reduced the stress level.”

And having people stay at the station during their shifts has cut response time from about 12 minutes to about two.

“Before, they’d get the call and have to drive from their house to the station to get their gear, and then go to the call. And some of the guys don’t have garages, so in the winter they’d have to be out there scraping off their cars before they could get to the station,” Kennelly said.

“Just a few days ago, two people fell through the ice there,” he said, pointing out the window as he drove to the new Whitefish Emergency Center. “We got to them in about two minutes,” he said, adding that hypothermia sets in quickly and the men might not have been so lucky if it had taken longer to get to them.

Arriving at the center, Kennelly opened the door into the roomy 32,656-square-foot, two-story complex on Baker Avenue the fire department will share with the Whitefish Police Department and the municipal court. It will be a welcome change from the cramped 8,000 square feet the fire department has now.

“Fire equipment’s gotten bigger and this building’s stayed the same size,” Kennelly said of the old downtown station.

The new $7.8 million complex boasts 10 bays for fire trucks; an exhaust ventilation system that allows trucks to run inside without firefighters enduring toxic fumes; radiant heat in the floor; nine individual rooms for every on-shift firefighter instead of the old station’s shared rooms; two large bath/shower areas; a library; soundproof doors; a patio; and yes, a fire pole for expediency.

Money from bonding the city’s tax-increment finance district will pay for the building.

Burgeoning traffic on Baker Avenue has made it more and more difficult to maneuver firetrucks in and out of the downtown station.

“We have a devil of a time pulling [the trucks] out of this place on an emergency call,” he said.

Although there’s a bit of nostalgia for the old fire hall, there’s much more excitement for the new facility.

“I know people have struggled for years with this station and I’m excited to see them enjoy the new one,” he said.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com