Search under way to replace fire chief

Kalispell's Randy Brodehl announces retirement

Kalispell fire Chief Randy Brodehl announced his retirement Wednesday.

According to a press release issued by the city, Brodehl wants to spend more time with his family, including his grandchildren. Brodehl could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

He had been on an indefinite leave - a combination of vacation days and paid administrative leave - for the past two months with city officials declining to discuss his situation during that time.

City Manager Jim Patrick said Wednesday that Brodehl was taking that time to decide his future.

Brodehl has been a firefighter for 38 years, and was Kalispell's fire chief since 2001.

At times, Brodehl has had tense relations with some Flathead rural fire districts and with Kalispell's firefighters union, the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 547.

Meanwhile, Brodehl's tenure as fire chief was also marked by:

. Upgrades in the firefighters' certifications. Today, all Kalispell firefighters double as paramedics - creating the only Flathead department that can guarantee an advanced-life-support level medic on each ambulance run.

. The opening of a second fire station in northern Kalispell, putting almost all of the town within a five-minute-run from a fire station.

. Boosting Kalispell's Insurance Service Office rating from a 5 to a 3 - dropping fire insurance premiums within Kalispell.

. Dramatically increasing the number of on-duty firefighter/paramedics.

. The department becoming Northwest Montana's regional hazardous materials team.

. The purchase of a second ladder truck.

Patrick said Brodehl earned more than $70,000 annually.

Dan Diehl is the department's acting chief while a nationwide search is conducted for Brodehl's replacement.

Patrick expects the search to take from four to five months, which will include a review of the Fire Department's needs to tailor the new chief's qualifications to those requirements.