Fairfield Fire Pact Works Out

When Fairfield merged its fire department with Fire District 2 last year, no one knew how the arrangement would work.

The Fairfield Fire Department split from the district which surrounds it in late 1993 after years of internal bickering.

The Fairfield Town Council declared the arrangement a success at its meeting Tuesday night.

The council voted to continue the combined town-district department another year.

“We’ll continue on the way we have been,” said Fire District 2 chief Greg Wernz after the council’s vote. “We really haven’t had any major kinks come in.”

Fairfield will pay approximately $16,700 to Fire District 2 in 2001. The biggest change made to next year’s contract was the decision to combine the volunteer rosters of the town and district and have the district pay all the volunteers.

Fire commissioners already approved the contract, said District 2 commissioner Steve Primmer.

“It’s a done deal,” he said. “I think it’ll work better every year.”

But disagreements haven’t entirely disappeared.

Sharp words were exchanged between Ken Southwell - who heads up the district’s emergency medical service - and Councilwoman Gerry McLean. Her husband, Jerry McLean, was the fire chief for the town department.

McLean and Southwell appeared to be arguing over the condition of the town’s fire truck at the time of the split in 1993.

McLean claimed the truck had been stripped of all equipment, including axes. Southwell asked if she had pictures.

A Fairfield resident and volunteer firefighter cut off their argument.

“This whole thing is totally pointless,” said Brent Barratt. “So stop talking about it and get on with the damn contract.”

McLean asked her fellow council members to stipulate that the town’s firetruck not be allowed to leave Fairfield. The town shouldn’t be left unprotected, she said.

The contract stipulates that a pumper truck and ambulance be housed at the town fire station, but does not state that the truck can’t leave the area.