POST FALLS - Warren Merritt has spent 32 years working his way to become a fire chief.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, the first agency in which he applied for chief, has granted his wish.

Merritt, who has served with the Bellevue Fire Department in Washington since 1980, including the past six years as deputy chief of operations, will start at KCFR on March 5.

"It already feels like home," Merritt said. "I've been waiting for the right job for my wife, Dana, and I to settle down in and be a part of the community. Everything about the opportunity was appealing."

KCFR serves Post Falls, Dalton Gardens, Huetter, Wolf Lodge, Fernan Village and Stateline. Bellevue has nearly 250 employees, while KCFR has 60.

Merritt will replace Ron Sampert, who is retiring and has been KCFR's chief since Post Falls Fire and Kootenai County Fire Protective District No. 1 consolidated in 2001. Lynn Borders and Sampert co-administered the district for a year and a half before Borders joined Kootenai County EMS in 2002.

Merritt, who will make $105,000 per year, is a third-generation firefighter.

"Public service is in my blood," he said. "I used to ride in the fire truck with my dad as a small kid."

Merritt was chosen from 44 applicants. The runnerup in the search was Bruce Kroon, a fire captain at Bellevue.

Merritt began his fire career as a volunteer firefighter for King County Fire District No. 10 in 1974.

Prior to his promotion to deputy chief at Bellevue in 2005, he served 13 years as a battalion chief in three of Bellevue's fire divisions.

Merritt has a bachelor's degree in public safety administration, an associate's degree in fire science, a Chief Fire Officer designation and an Executive Fire Office designation.

"Warren has proven that he is committed to continuous growth and self-improvement and we believe that he will be instrumental in helping move Kootenai County Fire and Rescue to the next level of professionalism and quality service delivery," said Keith Hutcheson, chairman of KCFR's board. "Mr. Merritt comes to us with both outstanding credentials and a reputation of fire service excellence."

Four panels consisting of local officials, firefighters, community members and the board interviewed five finalists this week. Hutcheson said all four panels agreed on Merritt.

KCFR contracted with Prothman, the same recruiting company Post Falls used in its search for a city administrator, for $18,500 in the national search.

"This was the community's pick, not just the KCFR board's pick," Hutcheson said.

Sampert, who was among the panelists on the search committee, agreed Merritt was the right choice.

"Going into this (search process), I felt it was important for the fire district to find somebody who could do more than me," Sampert said. "He's tasted every step of the ranks of the fire department, and I believe he has what it takes to take us to the next level."