In his first call since coming out of retirement, Fire Chief Phil Congdon and Lewis County Fire District (LCFD) 18 — known as Glenoma Fire & EMS — responded to a large residential structure fire in the 7800 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Glenoma at about 5:45 a.m. Wednesday.
“We spent all day on it, then well into the evening because of spot fires all around,” the interim chief told The Chronicle Thursday afternoon.
Congdon said Glenoma Fire personnel returned Thursday morning to continue its response. He indicated the fire was now out and said no one was injured, though some pets may have died.
Congdon said three volunteer firefighters from LCFD 18 arrived first on the scene, along with three from LCFD 4 in Morton. Personnel from LCFD 14 (Randle Fire & EMS) and LCFD 9 (Mineral Fire & Rescue) also contributed mutual aid.
“We provided 12 personnel, including a fully staffed Engine Company, Tender, Aid Unit, and District Chaplain,” Randle Fire & EMS wrote on its Facebook page Thursday morning. “Arriving third due, Randle volunteers assisted with fire suppression efforts.”
The department added that its Engine 14-1 “performed a 'blind alley' supply hose lay and managed a continuous water supply operation from the highway while T14-1 was integrated into a water shuttle operation.”
Its ambulance, A14-1, staged nearby. The department said it stayed until about 11:02 a.m. Wednesday until "overhaul was determined manageable by units on scene.”
“We were thankful to arrive home safely to a waiting and much needed breakfast thoughtfully prepared by our remaining staff at the station,” the department added. “Thank you to our volunteers and their employers for a respectable turnout during the middle of a work week.”
Mineral Fire & Rescue wrote on Facebook Thursday afternoon that its crews also supplied water to support suppression of the fully involved fire.
“In rural areas, establishing and maintaining a reliable water supply is critical — and strong inter-district teamwork makes that possible,” the department said, adding that it was grateful for the “dedication of every volunteer who answered the call before sunrise on a workday.”
Congdon, who said his own department contributed a tender and engine to the efforts, estimated the combined units used roughly 50,000 gallons of water to put out the fire.
He described the building as an older, two-story structure that had used sawdust as insulation.
“So you’re fighting that (too),” Congdon said.
Congdon was thrust from retirement and back into the fire chief role following the resignation of former chief Jeanine Armstrong on Feb. 10. He’s been working ever since to rebuild the district’s volunteer staff after 16 firefighters and EMTs — along with the commissioners’ clerk — also chose to resign, as previously reported by The Chronicle.
Congdon said he has about 10 to 12 volunteer firefighters available right now, but has yet to acquire any EMTs. He’s also working on his own EMT recertification.
The interim chief said he’d like to have at least three EMTs on staff.
Like many neighboring fire departments, the Glenoma and Randle fire districts are currently bound to a mutual first-response agreement, which was established in 2011.
That agreement will expire next month, as the LCFD 14 commissioners voted on Feb. 19 to terminate the contract and submit the required 30-day written notice of termination.
According to previous Chronicle reporting, Randle Fire & EMS Chief Justin Claibourn explained during the special meeting that the decision was based on liability concerns due to LCFD 18’s sudden lack of staff certified to drive engines and other apparatus.
Despite the termination, Claibourn assured Congdon and LCFD 18 Commission Chair William “Bill” Lauth that Randle firefighters and EMTs would continue to respond with mutual aid.
On Thursday, Congdon disputed any notion that his department was in a defunct state.
“Glenoma District 18 is up and running, and has been up and running,” Congdon said.
