Mayor calls for suspensions, AGO investigation

Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz has called for an investigation of a Cathlamet Fire Department mission.

In July, Wehrfritz reported that members of the Cathlamet Volunteer Fire Fighters Association had applied in 2010 as a private business for a fire fighting contract with the US Forest Service and taken the department's wildlands unit to Prineville, Ore., for an inspection. They charged the fuel expense to the town's Emergency Services Fund (EMS), which covers ambulance expenses, not fire fighting expenses.

At Monday's monthly meeting of the town council, Wehrfritz indicated he considered the actions unjustified and illegal. He said he had asked Department Chief Jerry DeBriae to suspend two of the volunteers involved in the incident, and that he had asked the Washington Attorney General's Office to investigate the incident. He also asked that a new commander be appointed for the wildlands unit.

In July, Wehrfitz had sent a letter to DeBriae asking for an explanation of the Forest Service contract and related issues.

DeBriae responded in a letter earlier this month that department members had sought the contract to increase the opportunity for responding to fires handled by the Forest Service. When they learned the department and association wouldn't qualify, they dropped the contract. His letter acknowledged that the fuel expense shouldn't have charged the expense to the EMS Fund and added that protocols have changed so that wouldn't happen again.

Firemen say the wildlands unit encourages young people to join the department, for they can gain money and experience by being deployed on a state or federal fire. The unit is also handy for responding in rough ground around the town, and through mutual aid agreements, other areas of the county.

On Monday, Wehrfritz downplayed that response.

The contract plainly said it was for businesses, he said. He said he had contacted Forest Service personnel who told him that they, not the fire department, cancelled the contract when they realized the association wasn't a true business.

He said the fireman on the trip was paid a stipend, which should be paid only when the volunteer is within three minutes of town. Councilmember Wally Wright, a fire department officer, responded that volunteers will trade duty times. Town Clerk Tina Schubert commented that records need to show who works and when for a variety of reasons.

Wehrfritz said he had contacted the town's insurance carrier and was told the town's policy wouldn't cover activities of firemen working as a private business.

Overall, he said, the improper actions "exposed the Town of Cathlamet to catastrophic risk."

He added that the mayor and council need to take strong action on the matter.

"A weak response would signal that the actions were acceptable," he said. "They never will be."

As councilmembers discussed the report, Steve McNicholas moved that the council authorize the mayor to begin discussions with Fire District 4 to take over the wildlands unit. Councilmember Bob Rendler seconded.

"This equipment has caused us nothing but trouble and expense," McNicholas said. "It would be a much better use of tax money to have District 4 operate it."

Wright said that Cathlamet and District 4 have mutual aid agreements, and Cathlamet has the fastest response time to fires. The wildlands unit has many uses and is often called in for first aid events, and District 4 doesn't have a first aid division.

"It is not costing the town what it is returning in service," he said, "I think."

Councilmember David Goodroe agreed that the wildlands unit is an important recruiting tool.

In a recent two year period, it generated $17,000 in revenue for the town, plus fire fighters wages, when deployed to state managed fires.

"Let's see how it runs with another person in charge," Wehrfritz said.

When the council voted, the motion died 5-0.