The Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District Governing Board members discussed the possibility of hiring an internal candidate to fill the role of interim fire chief during their May 17 meeting. Fire Marshal Nate Bailey said that he was interested and willing to fill the role.
The interim fire chief will serve for a period of 3 to 6 months while the district works out a joint management agreement and will also need to fill a seat on the board when Chief Terry Keller leaves. The board held a special meeting on May 25 that approved the interim fire chief contract, effective June 1.
The district recently received $750,000 in state funding through an arrangement worked out by Arizona Rep. Quang Nguyen [R-District 1]. New board members Ed Gee and Jon Huey were also sworn in during the meeting.
In terms of pursuing a joint management agreement with another fire district, board Chairman Joshua Maxwell said that both the Sedona and Verde Valley fire districts have begun discussions with their boards and legal counsel, with a timeline of one to three months to reach an agreement.
