Echo fire chief reports equipment damage, places firefighter on temporary relief pending medical clearance

Fire Chief Matt Dunphy told the Echo City Council on Feb. 11 that the department "was recently called to 2 separate fire calls," and that one response involved a city fire truck backing into a neighboring town's water drop tank. Dunphy said the city will need to replace the tank and that he had received a vendor quote of $2,300; he said he would check whether the price included the bladder.

Dunphy said one firefighter was found responsible for the incident and had recently been in another accident. Councilman Darren Gjerset moved and Councilman Dan Larsen seconded a motion to place that firefighter on temporary relief of duty until a doctor provides a clearance letter; the motion carried unanimously. The action is a personnel restriction pending medical clearance and was not described in the transcript as a disciplinary termination.

Dunphy reported the department has three people enrolled in Firefighter I/II training and said one firefighter who previously completed training did not pass required testing and therefore will be limited in duties until he completes those tests. He told the council he would like to attend a fire school in Moorhead in March.

Dunphy said a firefighter pension increase proposed at a department meeting did not pass. Council discussion included a suggestion from Councilman Darren Gjerset to schedule hose testing when weather conditions improve and a request to remove old ladders from the hall.

Councilman Wyatt Bendix moved and Councilman Mark Schettler seconded a motion to buy steer tires for all department trucks; that motion carried. The purchase was approved by the council during the Feb. 11 meeting.

Next steps noted in the meeting: Dunphy will confirm the vendor quote details (in particular whether the bladder is included) and follow up on training and equipment timelines. The council recorded these actions and did not schedule further formal review in the transcript.