Chief's Corner

by
Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel

Kenny Gabriel

Welcome to the web site of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department. Please explore the various pages of the site and meet our personnel, learn about our equipment and programs as well as discovering fire safety tips for your home or business.

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department (CDAFD) currently responds to medical and fire calls from three stations. Daily staffing levels include one captain, three lieutenants, three engineers (drivers and pump operators) and six firefighters. They are split into the three stations where they staff one truck company, one transport unit (station #1), one engine and transport unit (station #2), and one rescue pumper and paramedic chase car (station #3). Those personnel responded to over six thousand calls for assistance last year making the CDAFD the second busiest fire department in the State of Idaho.

With the addition of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) transport services as well as paramedics our responsibilities have grown significantly. As a member of the Kootenai County Emergency Medical Services System (KCEMSS) we function as a medical Quick Response Unit (QRU) and provide EMS support and paramedic response through the county. We also handle critical care transport service to and from Kootenai Medical Center. In the last two years we have sent seven of our personnel through paramedic school at Spokane Community College and have supplemented our paramedic staffing with a number of employees hired through the testing process. All our personnel are cross-trained to at least Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - D level and up to paramedic. Next year we will have one paramedic responding out of every station.

Our special events section worked overtime this year in the planning, organizing, and actual participation in the first Ironman Coeur d'Alene. This national event brought approximately 2000 athletes from around the world to our City and it was the responsibility of the CDAFD to assure their safety during the swim, bike, and run portions of the race. Near record heat made things interesting but the event was an enormous success and the response plan worked well.

As with years past, the CDAFD actively participates in the regional response of Wildland fire resources and management teams. With this year being as bad as we have ever seen, the commitment we have to this region is even more tested. We continue to diligently train and equip our personnel to a high level in an effort to keep them, as well as you, safe during Wildland fire season.

As with many jurisdictions in the region we are experiencing unprecedented growth. On the horizon for us is the addition of an operations chief as well as a second inspector in the fire prevention bureau. We are also making plans to build an administrative office for staff and a huge priority is the construction of a training facility for both the CDAFD and the Police Department.

Enjoy browsing CDA's web site. If you have any questions or comments regarding the site or the CDAFD, feel free to contact our office at 769-2340