WA Fire District Hiring Paid, Part-Time Chief for First Time

WAITSBURG, WA—For the first time ever Columbia-Walla Walla County Fire District 2 is offering a paycheck as it recruits a part-time fire chief.

The agency is advertising for a leader to oversee operations of the otherwise all-volunteer department that covers portions of the two counties and includes Waitsburg, according to Commissioner Deb Fortner. Pay will be based on education and experience.

The change is one of many over the last couple of years stemming from financial and personnel challenges that have seen the retirement of longtime firefighters, difficulty recruiting new volunteers, the end of its ambulance transports and a financial impropriety by a former assistant chief.

Assistant Fire Chief/Acting Fire Chief Colter Mohney said today the all-volunteer department has needed someone to help for “quite a long time.” Mohney has been acting chief over a year after the retirement of Neil Henze, former acting chief.

“We need someone around who’s available during the daytime,” Mohney said. “Really it’s all the administrative stuff.”

He added the person would help keep everyone on top of qualifications and training, among other things.

“There’s a lot involved to keep the department running,” he said.

Mohney became the assistant fire chief about a year after his predecessor, Brian Callahan, was put on administrative leave by fire district commissioners in December 2017. About $1,640 worth of personal purchases were found on the district’s credit card statements under Callahan.

State auditors, who confirmed the findings in an investigation, recommended the district continue to monitor its credit cards and seek $1,079.26 from Callahan in restitution for both the loss of funds and the cost of the investigation. As of June 2018, he had repaid the district $1,357.42, according to the state audit report.

As for the new chief, the ideal candidate would have a strong emergency medical services background, be “an effective leader,” five years’ experience as an active volunteer firefighter or three years’ experience as a full-time paid firefighter,” according to a job description at ubne.ws/firechief, the Washington Fire Commissioners Association website. The job ad is also on the Washington Fire Chiefs site.

Also required for the job are a Washington state driver’s license, residency within 10 miles of Waitsburg, and a regular work schedule.

The post requests five years of supervisory experience. The chief would be responsible for oversight, planning, budgeting, administration, operations and others.

The deadline to submit applications is May 1.

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Visit Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (Walla Walla, Wash.) at union-bulletin.com

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