POST FALLS — A full room of firefighters stood and applauded Monday after the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue board of commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Pete Holley as the new chief. 

Holley said it has been a tough road for the department after the loss of Frank Harwood during the Canfield Mountain shooting in June, mere weeks before Chris Way stepped down as fire chief and Holley became interim chief. 

“We're still healing, we don’t know exactly what life is like without Chief Harwood. We miss him and we talk about him every day,” Holley said. 

Although he wasn’t initially sure if he wanted the honor of becoming chief, Holley said it wasn’t long before he felt the community support and the fire crews rallying around him.

“We have such great people at KCFR and they entrusted me with this,” Holley said. 

Monday's meeting was held in the newly renamed Frank J. Harwood Training Campus.  

Holley said a commemoration for Harwood’s service is in the works.

“Frank was known for his training, for his mentorship, he probably had more hours on this training ground, doing stairs, training in the burn building, it only felt right to name this campus after him,” Holley said. 

Fire Commissioner Tom LaPonsey said Holley’s support from the firefighters was the main reason behind the decision. 

“I’ve been very impressed with his management skills, his leadership skills and firefighting professionalism,” LaPonsey said. “It was an easy decision to not have to go to the outside.” 

Holley began his firefighting career as a volunteer in 2009 in Eagle, eventually becoming a paramedic by attending school at the College of Southern Idaho.    

He joined Kootenai County Fire and Rescue in 2011 as a firefighter paramedic and continued his education to obtain his bachelor’s degree in paramedicine from Central Washington University. Holley served as a captain before being selected to be the deputy chief of operations in February 2023. 

Fire Commissioner Andy Boyle said it was a straightforward decision to choose Holley. 

“He’s open, he’s calm, he sees the big picture, he’s compassionate with his employees and has humility and he has a lot of in-house support,” Boyle said. “He’s been filling in as interim chief shortly thereafter the Canfield Mountain incident and he’s had a lot on his plate.” 

Holley will be officially sworn in as permanent chief at a pinning ceremony Jan. 7. 

“Serving our community, mentorship for our people internally and building trust, those are three of my core values,” Holley said.  

He noted there is a lot of work ahead for him and the fire district since the permanent override levy failed in November. 

“We realize that 80% or 90% of our community never interacts with us because they don’t have that need, but we want to let them know when they do need us, we’re there for them,” Holley said.  

Holley stated that Kootenai Fire and Rescue officials plan to put another proposal to voters in May.

“I want to make sure that we’re good stewards of the dollar, that people trust us and that we’re completely transparent. We want to tell people what their dollars are being used for so they’re happy with the service they get,” Holley said. 

    Firefighters gave Pete Holley a standing ovation Monday after he was unanimously voted in as fire chief for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Monday at the Frank J. Harwood Training Campus.