Airway Heights OKs fire pact with district

The Airway Heights City Council unanimously voted Monday night to approve a mutual agreement between the Airway Heights Fire Department and Lincoln County Fire District 4 to share resources.

The agreement will allow the city to call upon the fire district in case of a fire emergency.

“What this agreement gives us the ability to do is to put down in writing the conditions in which we will request mutual aid from (Lincoln County) 4, the mutual aid they would request from us and, more importantly, how we’re going to respond, who’s responsible and the parameters for the response,” said Airway Heights Fire Chief John Schoen.

“Any time you can have more partners to assist you when you need it, it’s a good thing,” added Schoen. “Of course, we would use closer resources first, but there may indeed be a time where we need resources from Reardan. In reality, they’re only 13 miles away down Highway 2, so they’re not as far away as they would seem to be. It just made sense to have another tool in our toolbox in case we needed additional mutual aid.”

The agreement is subject to approval from the Lincoln County commissioners.

In other council action, the 2010 Capital Improvement Plan was tabled. The budget, which will address the new police department building, water, sewer and street improvements, among other topics, will be introduced at the next council meeting Oct. 19.