Firefighter's job is on the chopping block

While Ben Parsons is being hailed as a hero by many, there’s an ironic twist playing out in his life.

Parsons is scheduled to be laid off from the Whitefish Fire Department on July 31 in the latest round of proposed budget cuts by the city of Whitefish, Fire Chief Tom Kennelly said.

A Flathead Valley native, Parsons joined the Whitefish Fire Department a year and a half ago, thinking he had found a career that would satisfy his lifelong goal of being able to live and work in the Flathead.

He worked as a teacher at Fair-Mont-Egan for a couple of years before becoming a firefighter/paramedic.

As Whitefish wrestles with a sizable budget shortfall, the International Association of Firefighters Local 3995 is negotiating with Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns to spare Parson’s job.

Scott Alexander, president of the local union, said Whitefish firefighters have offered to give up their cost-of-living raises, which should save enough money to preserve Parsons’ job and keep the force at 15 firefighters.

He also wrote a recent opinion piece in the Whitefish Pilot, asking for public support and stressing that public safety could be jeopardized by trimming the department.

“You cannot put a price on safety,” Alexander said. “A balanced budget is not worth losing homes or lives.”

Parsons was among the last firefighter/paramedics to be hired when the city ramped up to round-the-clock fire and ambulance service more than a year ago.

While his firefighting experience was limited, he was chosen for the position “because he showed so much merit,” Alexander said.

“He’s going to be and already is a leadership guy,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to lay him off. He’s turned out to be a gem.”

In budget talks with department heads, Kennelly told city administrators that higher overtime costs could offset any savings from laying off one firefighter.

The Whitefish City Council has adopted a preliminary budget but still has roughly a month and a half to make changes before adopting a final budget in late August.