By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – None of the finalists for Chehalis fire chief made the cut.
Chehalis City Manager Merlin MacReynold announced yesterday he appointed the city’s police chief as interim fire chief. Chief Glenn Schaffer will oversee the operations of both departments for the time being.
The city had identified three men as finalists for the position after a nationwide search and conducted extensive interviews early last month.
MacReynold said in a news release yesterday the process has concluded without him selecting a replacement.
“I am disappointed that we were not able to find the right candidate, but with a new city manager coming on board in a couple months it makes sense for them to determine how to proceed,” MacReynold stated.
The retiring city manager did not give a reason.
Recruiting efforts for a new chief came after the resignation about six months ago of half-time Fire Chief Jim Walkowski. Walkowski was also leading neighboring Riverside Fire Authority in Centralia, but moved to Spokane County to take a new job amid drastic budget cuts in Centralia.
The Chehalis Fire Department had a full time chief until April of last year.
MacReynold had said he believed it would take him a week or two to make a decision after Sept. 8 when the three finalists met with numerous panels and the city council. Two weeks later he said he was still waiting to hear from a couple of references.
The candidates were Gary Woodson, former fire chief for Pendleton, Ore. Fire and Ambulance Department who had been in the fire service since 1974; Joseph Sands, an engineer-paramedic in Billings, Montana, with experience as both assistant and interim chief; and Jeff Larson, who for 13 of the past 30 years of fire service was suppression battalion chief with the city of Lodi, California.
MacReynold had said finding the right fit for the community was his primary goal.
Schaffer’s new dual role begins Thursday, according to MacReynold.
Capt. Rob Gebhart who has been serving as interim chief since May will return to his captain duties.
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For background, read : “News brief: Meet Chehalis fire chief candidates” from Sunday Sept. 7, 2014, here [1]