Fire District No. 8 to hire 2 captains

MATTAWA - Grant County Fire District No. 8 will have a full command structure at all fires to which it responds in the near future.

Fire District No. 8 commissioners decided on Friday to add a new position of captain to the department. The suggestion was made by Interim Fire Chief Dave Patterson and Business Manager Barbara Davis Wilson.

Patterson was the lone captain in the department until he was elevated to the chief's post after former chief Dave Hargroves resigned. Patterson is the leading candidate for Chief, a position that should be filled about six months from the time Patterson took the position temporarily.

According to Davis Wilson, the department will start looking for its captains after the job description for the two positions have been approved by the commission. They have been written.

"We will open it up to our own volunteers first," Davis Wilson said.

Davis Wilson said that at least two volunteers have stated their interest in captaincies. She said the commission will have to decide if they are qualified enough for the posts.

According to Davis Wilson, the decision by the commission to add a captain will mean there will be a paid member of the command structure at all fires.

"We will have more consistency in our command structure," she said. "We'll have 24-7 command coverage."