Fire department answers mayor's questions about truck

Cathlamet Fire Department officers have responded to queries from Mayor George Wehrfritz about the operation of the department's wildland truck and its travel out of state.

Wehrfritz voiced concerns about the truck and its use by department members at the July 18 meeting of the council. He said the unit had undertaken unauthorized missions while operating as a private business, that the unit was deployed out of state without permission, and that it appeared Emergency Medical System (the first aid and ambulance division of the department) funds had been misappropriated in support of the wildland operations.

In a July 18 letter to department Chief Jerry DeBriae, Wehrfritz posed questions about the operation of the unit and also ordered that the unit remain within Wahkiakum County and refrain from operations not consistent with the department's public mission.

Wehrfritz's concerns centered around department efforts to get the vehicle certified for responding to fires handled by the US Forest Service.

Department members, organized as the Cathlamet Volunteer Fire Department Association, a non-profit corporation, filed applications for the program in the spring of 2010, and they took the wildlands unit to Prineville, Ore., for an inspection.

Wehrfritz asked for an accounting of the unit's financial records and of all activities undertaken by the unit for non-public purposes.

Department members delivered a response to Wehrfritz dated August 5 and signed by Chief DeBriae.

First, they said, the unit didn't undertake any unauthorized missions and activities while operating as a private business, which they called a serious accusation totally without merit. They pointed out that the contract had a start date of April 14, 2010, and was terminated May 26, 2010.

Captain Matt Beaulaurier, who headed the project, noted that in previous employment with the state Department of Natural Resources, he observed that many out-of-state departments contracted with the USFS during the summer, bringing in revenue to their departments and offering training and experience to firefighters.

Beaulaurier completed the contract application process on line. The Forest Service followed up with requests for more information, and the agency supplied forms referring to the department as a small business. After he contacted Forest Service personnel about the issue, he was told "we were ineligible for the federal contract as there was a small business requirement." They terminated the contract, and Beaulaurier took steps to enroll the wildlands unit in the DNR's state mobilization list.

Working through the DNR would allow the department to conduct operations without the need for separate insurance, hiring employees or other complications, Beaulaurier reported.

"Thanks to the efforts of Assistant Chief Bill Faubion and Captain Beaulaurier, Brush Engine 905 is now eligible for out-of-state deployment through DNR State Mobilization with apparatus revenues paid directly to the Town of Cathlamet in the same manner as wildland firefighting revenues have been historically paid to the town," the chief's response letter said.

The letter also denied the vehicle was taken out of state improperly.

The vehicle was taken to Prineville, one of a few centers where the USFS conducts inspections. The trip was a one-day trip.

The trip was not reimbursable travel subject to rules regarding that expense, the letter said; instead, the trip was for carrying on the normal operations of the department, and there are no directives governing that travel. The $130 bill for the inspection was submitted for review and approved by the council, the letter said.

The department did agree that the fuel charge of $81.06 should have been charged to the Current Expense Fund and not the EMS Fund, but department members say that is not a misappropriation of funds. The department has revised its fueling policies, and that kind of error shouldn't happen again, the letter said.

Also, the fire fighters' association didn't receive any monies for wildland fire fighting in 2010 or 2011, the letter said.

The wildland unit serves important roles for the department, the letter says.

"It is a great recruiting tool and has encouraged may younger members to join for the opportunity of summer employment on a mobilization. They are a valuable addition to our firefighting capability.

"It has enhanced our ability to respond to wildland/urban interface fires on a local level. We have many areas in the town limits where Engine 905 has an important role to play in firefighting."

In closing, the letter demands an apology for "raising unfounded and baseless allegations of impropriety when it comes to wildland firefighting." The letter also asks that the mayor immediately and publicly rescind the order restricting the ability of the unit to respond to state mobilization fires outside the county.

When contacted Tuesday, Wehrfritz had no comment.

"I can't comment on issues related to personnel and issues that are ongoing," he said. "I just can't say anything."

Fire department operations and finances have drawn much scrutiny in the recently completed audit of the town by the Washington State Auditor's Office.

Auditors had their exit interview with the mayor, town clerk, and one council member last week. The audit report should be released this month, Wehrfritz said.