Havre has a fire chief

After days of confusion regarding the Havre Fire Department's future leadership, former Assistant Havre Fire Chief Nathan Courtnage confirmed Monday morning that he has been named the new Havre fire chief.

A release from Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher Monday morning said Courtnage, a 17-year veteran of the department and a three-year assistant chief, will act as the interim fire chief until the Havre City Council approves his appointment at their monthly meeting July 5.

"The City of Havre is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Courtnage as the City's new fire chief," the release says. " ... Courtnage knows the community and surrounding area well," the release continues. "His experience and desire to lead will make a great difference in our already outstanding Fire Department."

In the release, Courtnage said he wants to continue serving the people of a department that provides excellent service to the Havre community and surrounding areas.

"I am happy to announce that I have accepted the position of Fire Chief," he said.

This appointment comes after the announcement last week that then Havre Fire Chief Mel Paulson was retiring from the Havre Fire Department effective Friday, and Courtnage would be stepping down from his position effective today, seemingly leaving the city without a municipal fire chief.

Paulson said Thursday morning that he didn't 100 percent want to retire, but he feels he needs to.

"I just feel it's time," he said.

Courtnage said Thursday he couldn't talk about why he is stepping down.

Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Amanda Frickel said Wednesday evening she was told Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich would be given control of the department, which she said is a serious problem.

After the announcement about Courtnage taking the fire chief position, Frickel praised the apparent change in course by the city, saying she couldn't be more pleased with Courtnage's appointment.

"He will be a wonderful chief and will lead his department with integrity and diligence," she said.

Frickel said this apparent change of course is a relief to her.

Last week, she expressed serious concerns about the city being left without a qualified fire chief, something she feared would put them in violation of a contract the city has with Rural Fire District 1, a ring of land in Hill County around city limits to which Havre Fire Department provides fire suppression services and possibly opening the city to a lawsuit.

Kaercher and Matosich did not respond to requests from Havre Daily News for comment on the issue.

The RFD1 contract stipulates that the Havre Fire Department will provide fire suppression services to the district, as rural and volunteer fire departments in the area do not have the training or equipment to safely combat structure fires like they do grass fires.

The city had a contract with RFD1 for many years, but had been requesting a new contract that would require the district to enforce fire safety codes in its boundaries, with then-Mayor Tim Solomon saying that the lack of enforcement in the district was becoming a serious safety concern to the department.

After a year of conflict, RFD1 drew up the current contract which includes the appointment of a fire chief, or an equivalent thereof, for the district to enforce fire codes like the city wanted.

Frickel said last week that the contract also included a stipulation that Havre must have a municipal fire chief at all times, otherwise the contract would be breached, and RFD1, at least on paper, would not have any fire suppression services for structure fires.

During the conflict over the contract last year Havre Fire Department leadership said it would still provide fire suppression to RFD1 but would bill the district directly, an expensive prospect for the district long term.

Frickel said last week; before Courtnage was appointed chief, that she doesn't know if this would be the case this time around should the contract be broken.

RFD1 Board Chair Steve Jamruszka said Thursday morning that he was not sure if Paulson and Courtnage leaving their positions would void the contract, and he would look into that.

Jamruszka said he was confident they would get something worked out, but that he needed more time to look into the situation.

Paulson also said at the time said he's not sure how his departure and Courtnage stepping down will affect the RFD1 contract but it is a serious question.

"There's definitely some issues," he said, " ... The city needs to get these positions filled expeditiously. It can be a public safety issue."

The appointment of Courtnage as interim chief, pending confirmation by city council, appears to resolve those concerns.