Volunteer Chief Off To Paid Job

Three current members of the Enderby fire department have applied to become the city’s new volunteer chief.

Current six year chief Kevin Alstad is departing the community for a paid job as deputy chief in Sparwood, which starts next week.

Alstad says the Enderby department is not overly busy with an average of 90 to 120 calls a year, but he says it’s a big time commitment.

Photo: Memorial for firefighter Dan Botkin in 2011.

At bottom, Fire Chief Kevin Alstad carries the helmet of Botkin in a march to the service.

“You’ve got to love the job. I have a passion for this so I sacrifice my family and my kids know it, but they are proud of me in many ways because of it.”

Alstad has worked in contract sales for an Enderby hardware store while serving as the chief.

“It’s been pretty much 7 days a week, having two jobs. The regular job to pay the bills, and then the fire services, you do in the evenings and on the days off.”

Alstad says the tragic death of firefighter Dan Botkin in 2011 after an explosion at a log home construction site, was the one incident he will never forget.

Deputy chief Cliff Vetter will serve as the interim chief, with the city to decide the next chief in the next few weeks.

Alstad says he has loved the job the last six years, but the demands continue to grow.

“With the new regulations of the playbook, and all the responsibilities of the chief, it’s getting tougher and tougher for volunteer chiefs to do this as a volunteer, or paid on call.”

Alstad served with the Enderby department for 14 years before becoming chief.