Earlier this year, the Airway Heights and Medical Lake fire departments and Spokane County Fire District 10 hired Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) to conduct a cooperative services study to see how the three departments could further consolidate services. One of ESCI's recommendations was for Airway Heights and Fire District 10 to merge through either a regional fire authority or annexation.
Representatives from Airway Heights' Public Safety Committee met with Fire District 10 commissioners and personnel Dec. 9 to discuss common goals, interests and concerns relating to further consolidation between the two departments.
Airway Heights and Fire District 10 have established a strong working relationship in the last couple of years. They, along with Medical Lake created the West Plains Fire Academy. All three agencies have come to each other's aid during fire calls.
"People from outside of our region who see these guys working together wouldn't know that they weren't one agency," Airway Heights Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said.
ESCI senior associate Lane Wintermule commended the board and the safety committee for taking the first step in these discussions and suggested they not rush into any decisions.
Both parties agreed that if they merged the two departments, their main focus would be creating an agency that would better serve the community. Other common goals include:
● Increase efficiencies
● Reduce duplication
● Standardize operations
● Increase safety standards
● Create a solid volunteer base for the department
Both groups also shared several concerns. One of the bigger issues was the loss of personnel or performance due to a merger. Wintermule said he had seen departments merge, only to have firefighters quit.
Councilwoman Tanya Dashiell said she met anonymously with Airway Heights firefighters about a potential merger.
"They (Airway Heights firefighters) love the camaraderie with Fire District 10," Dashiell said. "But they also felt 'if it's not broke, then don't fix it.'"
Another concern was funding mechanisms. Fire District 10 currently receives mitigation payments from Airway Heights and the city of Spokane every year. The commissioners are worried that if Fire District 10 enters into an agreement with Airway Heights, it would affect the payments they receive from both cities.
Other concerns include both departments maintaining their identities, age of capital resources and the command structure. Both parties established a steering committee, with representatives from Airway Heights and Fire District 10, to research these issues and returned to their elected officials.
"As you start to move forward, you need to ask yourself the million dollar question, 'What is in the best interest of the city?'" Wintermule said.
Regardless of whether or not there is a merger, the two departments will continue to support each other.
"If the board says coming together is not the best thing to do, then we'll still respond to calls and help the departments," Fire District 10 Chief Nick Scharff said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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