Chelan Fire and Rescue commissioners gather for general agenda, meet newest firefighter

CHELAN – A formal introduction of Chelan Fire and Rescue (CFR) 7’s newest firefighter, Austin Murdock, opened up the district’s regular meeting Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Station 7. Murdock was hired on Nov. 20 and just recently went to shift after completing two weeks on days. Assistant Chief Mark Donnell provided a brief description of some of Murdock’s qualifications, including current Firefighter 1 and 2, and EMT certificates and experience. “Austin was actually working part-time with Marysville and Lake Stevens fire departments,” said Donnell, “and came through the testing process number one, and we’re very pleased to have him.”
Moving through the proposed agenda for the night, Fire Chief Tim Lemon began reviewing the 2017 Budget Expense Report. Lemon explained that there’s not much in the way of payables as it’s nearing the end of year, “what is interesting,” he began, “is the accounts receivable regarding the state mobilization of the fires. Out of the California operations, we’re still pending about $26,500 that will be incoming, and our previous mobilization to California we’re waiting on about $63,000 there.” Lemon explained that the revenue from the current mobilization to California is unknown, however there has been a request for a seven-day extension for the fighters currently fighting the California blazes, “the crew is more than happy to stay down there and we’re just waiting to see if they are going to decide on that option or not,” he explained to the commissioners, “the boys are checking in regularly, they held the line last night … getting some front-line fire combat operations in … I’m sure they’re providing a very good service down there.”
The false alarm ordinance that Station 7 commissioners and staff had hoped to establish for 2017 is still at a standstill said Lemon, “we’ve had no movement from the county or the city on that.” On the brighter side of things however, Lieutenant testing has been completed according to Assistant Fire Chief Mark Donnell. The top three finalists from the testing will be realigned next year on shifts and will be Steve Saugen on A-shift, Joe Cox on B-shift and Jake Hepper on C-shift. Donnell added that there will also be two new members joining the Station 71 family, returning fighter AJ Mendiville and local resident Doug Morgan. “We have, right now, seven people who are slated to go into our volunteer recruit academy next year,” he said concluding his report on personnel.
On the prevention side of topics discussed, Chief Lemon provided an update on a previous offer from the “Pat & Mike’s Development.” The 79-home development planned for the near future is hoping to create “a little more density for the houses a little more cost affordable,” he explained, then stated that “part of that is providing what they call a public benefit, which is a land donation to the fire department … if it’s approved by the county than that land would be donated without restrictions to the fire department – without restrictions meaning it can only be used for a fire station.” Lemon continued by explaining to the commissioner’s that they (Pat & Mike’s Development) “understand that we have no immediate need for that, but 10 or 20 years down the road if there’s ever a need we’ve got a piece of land, that’s free and ours forever and always.”
The next CFR 7 regular commissioner’s meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Station 71, beginning at 4 p.m.