Fairchild is new Polson fire chief

Salary was factor in selection process

In the end, they didn’t have to go any farther than their own backyard, as former assistant fire chief John Fairchild accepted the job as Polson’s newest fire chief when he made the cut out of six other applicants from around the country.

Fairchild took the job following a special meeting last Friday night, in which a selection committee outlined their recommendations to the Polson city council. The selection committee was made up of councilmen Tom Jones and Tom Corse, and rural fire district member Fred Nelson.

Jones said in an interview after the meeting that Fairchild was not the committee’s first choice, but that talks with the top candidate broke down over salary levels. The other candidate lived in state but had most of his experience out-of-state, Jones said.

Jones said a primary factor in recommending Fairchild was the support from the existing Polson firefighters.

“We had input from the volunteer department, and that was probably the major reason,” he said.

Fairchild will step down as a detective for the Polson police department to take the job, and will begin April 10, although he’s already started the transition process.

“I’m going out [to the manufacturing company] April 11 to look at another truck we ordered last year, and to participate in training related to that truck. It’s unlike any process you’ve ever seen. We had specifications drawn up for exactly what we needed on the truck, and we go through those specs page by page to make sure it’s right,” Fairchild said.

In addition to being the preferred candidate of current Polson firefighters, Fairchild received the recommendation of outgoing chief Tom Maloney prior to his departure to start a new job in Washington.

Fairchild said he was aware there were other candidates with more experience and education — and one that was preferred over him — but that he feels confident he can do a good job.

“I’m going to do my best to make this happen,” he said. “It’s not about me, it’s about us. I’m just going to try to get all the players to the table and try to make things work better for the community.”

There were seven applicants total, including four from out-of-state, and ones from Butte and Missoula. Polson firefighters were not privy to the interviews conducted with individual candidates, although Polson public information officer Karen Sargeant said some of the firefighters were allowed to review the initial applications prior to Friday’s meeting, which many firefighters attended.

Fairchild will start with a pay of $17.40 an hour, plus benefits, which will be raised to $18.40 after a six-month probationary period. The $36,192 in initial annual salary represents about a $3,500 per year pay cut for him, due to his length of service in the police department, Fairchild said.

Polson police chief Doug Chase said officer Alan Booth will be promoted to detective, taking over Fairchild’s duties, and the department will begin advertising for another officer to fill Booth’s shoes.

“I’m going to do my best to make the transition [out of the police department] run smoothly. I offered to stick around and help in any aspect they need. I’m still right down the hall,” Fairchild noted.