HAYDEN — Although it wasn't what they initially planned, the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District is moving forward on a new Garwood Station. The estimated cost is $1 to $1.2 million, and work is expected to be complete in early 2027.

Fire Marshal Tyler Drechsel, Fire Commissioner Mike Pearce and Chief Kevin Croffoot met with The Press on Thursday to discuss the project and its implications for the department.

“It took a weight off our shoulders,” Drechsel said. 

When Croffoot became fire chief in November and other department leaders assumed new roles, creating a new station became a top priority to reduce response times.

Code violations and a stop-work order issued by Kootenai County on Feb. 24, 2024, rendered the 7,000-square-foot modular facility on Pope Road in Garwood unusable.  

“Our whole mission over here is transparency,” Croffoot said. “There are some things we can’t talk about, but we want to be transparent, the taxpayers deserve to know where we’re at.” 

Work was permitted to secure the roof and protect the structure from moisture before the order went into effect. The fire district and the Alberta-based manufacturing company, EXTREME Modular Buildings, have had potential litigation pending ever since.  

The Press has submitted a records request for the code violations issued by Kootenai County.

The first Northern Lakes Fire Station 3 was a shop used as a reserve station, located in Garwood, to serve emergency calls in the Garwood, Hayden, Rathdrum and Twin Lakes areas. 

“We need that station up and running,” Drechsel said.  

Northern Lakes received the deed to 3.4 acres in Garwood on a property near the original location by the bridge, Croffoot said, giving the department a new hope.  

Croffoot said the Idaho Transportation Department donated the land.

“They’re a big reason it’s possible because we don’t have to buy the land," he said.

ITD officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Croffoot said he is eager to finally have a third station up and running again in that area. 

“We want to fulfill that promise,” Croffoot said.  

Drechsel said although they can’t discuss efforts to resolve the EXTREME Modular Buildings and the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District issue, residents have been vocal about the need for Station 3.

“Our call volume is there, and it’s needed in that location," Drechsel said. "They’ll see a direct benefit to their insurance premiums to have a fire station up there. It reduces the tax premium to be within 5 miles of a staffed fire station.” 

Croffoot said the intention is to base the new station on the design of the East Side Fire District station at Arrow Point. 

“My compassion is with the people. I understand their complaints, I understand their concerns,” Croffoot said. “We’re just happy that we can follow through. That’s what the taxpayers voted for us to do.”