By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Responding to recent and future growth west of Post Falls, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue plans to staff its station near the state line 24-7 starting in July to improve response times.

KCFR Chief Warren Merritt said the staffing of the station at 4320 W. Seltice Way near Pleasantview Road is expected to cut response times to that side of the district in half, from an average of about 8 minutes to 4.

It will become KCFR's fourth staffed station.

"This will be a significant improvement in the level of service not only on the west side, but it gives us another engine company to respond to anywhere in the district," Merritt said. "It's a very positive move.

"This will improve response times considerably. For a person who is having cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute that passes. Every minute counts."

Merritt said opening the station has been a goal for the district for the past three years and has been planned for during the budget process.

"It's not uncommon for our crews at stations (on Idaho Street and 16th Avenue in Post Falls) to be on calls at the same time several times throughout the day," he said, referring to the demand to have the Seltice station staffed.

The Seltice station, built nearly 20 years ago, was manned by volunteers until the district's volunteer program was discontinued in 2014. It has served as a backup while repairs were done to other stations. The Post Falls Police Department has also used it as a substation for officers to write reports.

"When (the station) is opened we will be doing it with less-than-optimal staffing, adding two firefighters to each shift," Merritt said. "We will need to add additional firefighters as we can afford it over the next several years."

The station is undergoing a $230,000 remodel, which includes upgrades to the dormitory and kitchen, new flooring and paint, in preparation for the staffing.

"It needed a makeover," Merritt said.

The public is invited to an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m.

Merritt said the additional staffing and remodel is being paid for with a combination of a 3 percent tax increase approved last year for the current budget, revenue from growth and savings.

"We have managed our money, have zero debt and utilize conservative financial forecasts in order to prioritize expenditures on resources," Merritt said. "Thanks to the leadership of our board, the district has worked very hard at living within its means and is focused on providing quality fire and emergency medical services to our citizens."

Merritt said the station on 16th was minimally staffed in 2006 and staffing has been added to it as the district can afford it over the years. He said the Seltice station is now in a similar situation.