Northern Lakes Fire District is opening its third career-staffed station, further strengthening its comprehensive emergency services to the community. The new station, an interim solution, is located at the Coeur d'Alene Airport situated in Hayden. The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Station is on the airport's north side and will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"The opening of our third career-staffed station at the Coeur d'Alene Airport is a significant milestone for NLFD," Fire Chief Pat Riley said, in a news release. "It reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting and serving the communities we proudly serve. We are grateful for the joint effort with Kootenai County and the Cd'A Airport Staff, and we remain dedicated to enhancing the safety and well-being of our residents."

Northern Lakes Fire established a joint operation with Kootenai County and Cd'A Airport staff.

"The collaborative effort between the fire district and Kootenai County aims to save lives, protect property, and optimize taxpayer resources through shared responsibilities and agreements," the release said.

To ensure the highest level of service, the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station will be staffed with a minimum of three highly trained firefighters, with paramedics. This primary response unit will enhance 911 coverage at the airport and in the neighboring communities of Hayden, Rathdrum, Garwood and Twin Lakes.

Staffing of the third station at the airport is temporary, serving as an interim solution until a new station is constructed at Pope Road and Garwood by the end of the year. Northern Lakes is working toward securing funding for this future project, which will provide more comprehensive coverage for the northern portion of the fire district.

"Northern Lake Fire has already made significant strides in expanding its capabilities with the recent addition of a third fire engine at Station 2 in Rathdrum, made possible by the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER Grant from FEMA, which will fund 100% of wages and benefits for 13 firefighters from March 2023 to March 2026," said the release. "As the grant period draws to a close, NLFD will seek additional funding, potentially through a levy, to sustain the staffing of the third station and further improve emergency services throughout the district's 108 square miles."

Implementing the third-staffed fire engine has already yielded significant results. Response times have improved, reducing fire damage and saving lives saved through rapid emergency incident response.

Northern Lakes Fire anticipates responding to over 6,500 incidents in the Hayden, Rathdrum, Twin Lake and Garwood areas, underscoring the critical need for expanded emergency coverage.