Agreement douses Kamiah fire dispute

Oct. 06--KAMIAH -- A dispute between the city of Kamiah and members of the Kamiah Volunteer Fire Department has been amicably resolved, Mayor Betty Heater said Friday.

Heater would not disclose the particulars of the situation, which led to the fire chief and several members of the department threatening to resign by Oct. 1.

Fire Chief "Dan Musgrave and I settled our differences," Heater said Friday. The announcement was made at the Kamiah City Council meeting Wednesday night. Details of the discussions between city and fire department officials have not been made public.

All the firefighters who had said they would resign remain on the job, Heater added.

Musgrave announced his intentions to retire during an Aug. 22 city council meeting but did not specify the reasons. Attempts to contact him for comment have been unsuccessful.

Several city residents had expressed concern that if the fire department disbanded, the city's fire rating and their property insurance would have been affected. Heater acknowledged earlier that was a possibility, but the extent of the potential damage was never determined.

Heater said there has been no disruption in fire department service, and even if the situation had not been resolved the city would not have been left without fire coverage.

"We have a mutual-aid agreement with the rural fire department and Lewis County and Idaho County," she said. "Those are always in effect. Therefore, there is never an issue of getting help or response to any emergency."

Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.

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