ATHOL - The Timberlake Fire Protection District is back on its own.

Timberlake has severed its contract to receive administrative and training support from the neighboring Northern Lakes Fire District after three and a half years.

"It has been a pleasure working with them," said Kevin Kleinworth, acting Timberlake chief who will become the permanent chief next week. "They've really supported us through this transition."

Timberlake, which serves the Athol and Bayview areas, tapped Northern Lakes, which covers Hayden, Rathdrum and Garwood, at a time when Timberlake was having financial and administrative woes.

Dean Marcus, Northern Lakes chief, said the relationship and contract with the smaller Timberlake district has worked well, and Timberlake is now ready.

"It's time for us to allow them to go on their own," Marcus said. "As we've said all along, this was never meant to be permanent."

Timberlake maintained its own board during the transition.

Northern Lakes received $90,000 from Timberlake during the first year of the contract and $100,000 per year during the second and third years.

"It was a fair deal, but it also got to be a bit of a strain," Marcus said. "It's hard to be in two places at once and our employees didn't get paid more for doing it."

The districts maintain a mutual-aid agreement to support each other on large fires or other major incidents. The districts explored consolidating several years ago, but Marcus said such talks are not in the works.

Kleinworth was hired by Timberlake about a year ago. Prior to Jan. 1, he reported to Marcus with oversight from the Timberlake board. Kleinworth was recruited by Northern Lakes to lead Timberlake.

Timberlake also recently hired Brittany Baeumel as a full-time administrative assistant, Larry Boatwright as a part-time fire inspector and Robert Maines as a part-time training officer.