History of SOFD from Interviews
Carol and Gary Deaner:
In the year 2000 the Sam Owen peninsula and surrounding area had absolutely no fire protection. Richard Tritch (former fireman in Phoenix) and Carol Deaner, both residents of the Sam Owen peninsula, recognized the need for fire protection and put together a group representing Hope, East Hope, Clark Fork and SO peninsula. They met and talked at Deaner’s house to discuss the idea of creating a fire district for the east Bonner County and started getting signatures for a petition. Carol and Richard
spearheaded a series of community meetings at Memorial Community Center, Beyond Hope Resort and Clark Fork to present the idea and raise funds for a fire district.

The initial vision was to create a fire district which would extend from the Montana State Line to Trestle Creek, including the cities of Clark Fork, Hope and East Hope and Warren Island. Clark Fork had a fire department and chose to continue with an independent city fire department. Hope and East Hope decided to form a joint fire department in 2002. The original district covered the Peninsula and extended up Route 200 and the Denton Road, including the Riser Creek area, to the East Hope city limits.

The next step was to find out how to create a fire district. The first step was to hold an election to approve establishing a fire district, which has the authority to levy property taxes. The residents resoundingly approved it followed by approval by the Bonner County commissioners and the State of
Idaho. Thus, the Sam Owen Fire District was officially established. Taxes are not collected until the following year so the district had to start from ground zero. Early community fundraisers brought in some start up funds and a core group of volunteers began a training program with Wes Johns, who was the fire chief for the Hope/East Hope Fire Department at the time.
The first volunteer firefighters were Bob Wathen as fire chief, David Winslow as deputy fire chief, Rick Mosiman, Tom Modafferi, Gary Deaner and Tony Butler. The first Fire Commissioners appointed by the Governor were Gary Deaner, President; Chris Winslow and George Gow, Commissioners.

The Sam Owen firefighters worked with the Hope/East Hope fire department to respond to calls under an agreement that all calls in the new Sam Owen District would be responded to as well as those in the Hope/East Hope district. The first turnouts were donated in 2003 by regional fire departments that were upgrading their equipment. We first obtained the two 4x6s, one engine and one tanker from IDL. Neither truck had any equipment such as hoses, ladders, etc. Since we didn’t have a station we stored them in a garage at the Klaus Groenke estate and in Phil Jarvis’ storage area. When funds were available SOFD purchased two fully equipped used fire engines from General Fire in Spokane, WA. Bob discovered the engines for sale from Millwood. Both of them were almost fully equipped. Next the district commissioners put together a plan for a fire station to house the trucks and keep them out of the weather. Panhandle Area Council provided funding for a lease to own program.

The annual Sam Owen Pancake Breakfast was started and organized by the Sam Owen Fire District Commissioners as a community outreach event. Once the planning was underway Don and Nuala Steinke donated all the food for the breakfast from Don’s KFC franchise for the first 3 years. Attendance at the breakfast has grown every year, with 848 people served in 2017. A volunteer appreciation dinner was begun to recognize the contributions to the community by the volunteer firefighters and their spouses. Carol: “[Sam Owen Fire District is an example of] what you can accomplish with a small group of people working together. It was fun.”

Bob Wathen and George Gow Carol Deaner and Richard Tritch started a petition and raising funds to establish a district. The initial vision was to create a fire district which would extend from the Montana State Line to Trestle Creek, including the cities of Clark Fork, Hope and East Hope and Warren Island. The plans were scaled back to include the Sam Owen Peninsula and a portion of Denton Road and Riser Creek after Hope and East Hope decided to create a joint fire department. An election was then held and only 3 people voted against it. George: “People didn’t realize what we could accomplish and as it grew more people wanted to be part of it.” Fire Station #1 was completed in 2005.

• Timeline:
• 2000: Richard Tritch (former fireman in Phoenix) and Carol Deaner, residents of Sam Owen Peninsula put together a group representing Hope, East Hope, Clark Fork and SO peninsula to begin discussions about forming a fire district to serve east Bonner County.
• 2001: Began process to create Sam Owen Fire District. The initial vision was to create a fire district which would extend from the Montana State Line to Trestle Creek, including the cities of Clark Fork, Hope and East Hope and Warren Island. Clark Fork had a fire department and chose to continue with an independent city fire department. Hope and East Hope decided to form a joint fire department in 2002.
• 2001: 6 volunteers (Bob Wathen, Tom Modafferi, Rick Mosiman, David Winslow, Tony Butler and Gary Deaner) temporarily joined Hope/East Hope Fire Department for training under Wes Johns, the H/EH Fire Chief, before SOFD was officially formed and had funds to purchase equipment. To be able to respond to calls an agreement was made that all calls in the new Sam Owen District would be responded to as well as those in the Hope/East Hope district.
• 2002: SOFD officially established. The original district covered the Peninsula and extended up Route 200 and the Denton Road, including the Riser Creek area, to the East Hope city limits. SOFD now had the ability to levy taxes, but it takes one year before tax revenue actually is collected by district. Fund raisers and community donors provided initial funding. The district began acquiring equipment and engines and volunteer firefighters began training with Wes Johns of the Hope/East Hope Fire Department.
• 2002: The first commissioners were appointed by the governor, Dirk Kempthorne: Gary Deaner, George Gow and Chris Winslow. Commissioners elected Gary Deaner president and appointed Bob Wathen fire chief.
• 2002: Core group of 6 volunteers began training to specifically serve the SOFD: Bob Wathen, fire chief and firefighter, David Winslow, deputy fire chief and firefighter, and firefighters Rick Mosiman, Tony Butler, Tom Modafferi and Gary Deaner. 2003: Two 4x6s—one engine and one tanker with a 3000 gallon capacity were obtained from Idaho Department of Lands. Neither truck had any equipment such as hoses, ladders, etc.
• 2003: Funds became available to purchase equipment. Bob Wathen, Fire Chief, then discovered the engines for sale from General Fire in Spokane, WA. Both of them were almost fully equipped. Fire District purchased 2 fully-equipped used engines from Spokane Fire.

Excerpt from Sam Owen Fire District Commissions Meeting Minutes January 15, 2003:

Bob Wathen reported that we now have six fire apparatus. We have a four-wheel drive truck that was donated by Avista. We plan on converting it to a quick response truck this summer. It requires a water tank, a pump and hose line plus additional firefighting equipment and radios. It is temporarily being stored at the Noxon Rapids Dam facility. We received two surplus 6X6 trucks from IDL. They are classified as a pumper and a water tender. Both are in good condition. The pumper needs to have the seals replaced on its pump and is in temporary storage at the Mack residence on Peninsula Road. The tender is fully functional and is stored at the Hope Fire Station. It is operational and ready to respond to any fire call. The district has also received a 3000-gallon tender from IDL. It is also in good condition and is being stored outside at the Mack residence. We plan on making this apparatus operational this summer. The district acquired two fully operational pumpers in January. Each apparatus is fully equipped with all required equipment and supplies. One truck is being stored in a garage at the Jarvis residence on the Hope Peninsula and other is being stored at the Groenke residence at the end of the Peninsula.

• 2003: Steve Generaux volunteered to be our Training Officer.
• 2005: First brand new piece of equipment, a water-tender, was purchased through a grant from
• Homeland Security.
• 2005: First Pancake Breakfast
• 2006: SOFD began contracting fire protection to residences outside the district up Spring Creek Road. SOFD began contracting with individual properties not covered by a district because the SOFD board of commissioners thought that would be a good way to introduce them to SOFD and to both protect their property and assist them in getting a lower fire insurance cost.
• 2010: O’Neill Mountain development annexed into district.
• 2010: Eagan Mountain and Trestle Creek from Hope west city limits to milepost 41 was annexed.
• 2011: Martin property (40 acres) just west of Clark Fork requested annexation, which was approved.
• 2011: Trestle Creek Fire Station #2 built to improve response time. Local volunteers were recruited from that area.
• 2012: Volunteers recruited for Eagan Mountain and Trestle Creek.
• 2013: Clark Fork Valley Ambulance began keeping an ambulance at Station 1. Our volunteers trained as EMT’s to help out CFVA.
• 2014: East Hope requested annexation which was approved.
• 2015: Hope requested annexation, which was approved.
• 2016: Cloudsledge property was annexed.
• 2017: Fire boat purchased and equipped.
• 2017: Warren Island was annexed.
• 2017: New Engine to replace 1312.
• 2018: Pending: Annexation of upper Spring Creek Road.
• 2018: Today SOFD has 2 co-fire chiefs, 2 captains, 15 volunteer firefighters, a medical officer, 6 EMT’s and a public information officer. Firefighters are trained in ice rescue, rope rescue, extrication and medical emergencies, as well as structural and wildland firefighting.

George Gow: “The firefighters are excellent. The EMT’s are outstanding. You could not ask for more dedicated people. The equipment is really good. The commissioners keep the equipment up to code and ensure that it’s well-maintained. The buildings are really good. Our response time is one of the best. I have 100% faith that our fire department can respond effectively to any situation, no matter the task.”

Bob: “The dynamics of a small community are that people know each other and want to help their neighbors and friends. This provides the motivation for continuity and the success of the fire department.
Fire Ratings have gone down from 10 in 2001 to a 5 in many parts of the district in 2018. Water supply is critical for low fire ratings. 3 water tenders, dry hydrants and a fire boat, all of which can draw an unlimited amount of water from the lake, have greatly improved water supply.

Rick and Karen Mosiman:
Rick was one of the 6 first firefighters: Rick Mosiman, Gary Deaner, David Winslow, Bob Wathen, Tom Modafferi and Tony Butler. They joined temporarily with Hope/East Hope Joint Fire Department for training before SOFD district was formed. Began training after the Hope 44 fire in 2002.
In 2002 the first commissioners were appointed by Governor Dirk Kempthorne: Gary Deaner, George Gow and Chris Winslow. Trish Butler was secretary. The first brand new piece of equipment was a water-tender, purchased through a grant from Homeland Security in 2005. First major fire was an outbuilding next to a garage next to Island View Resort. The building was consumed, but contained. Most notable recollection for Rick is Bob’s leadership. Karen got involved after 4 years, stepping in as a fire commissioner to replace Chris Winslow. “I had no experience as a fire commissioner, but I kept the books. I drew on my background in human resource management for community relations, such as the pancake breakfast, starting a volunteer appreciation dinner, creating our first logo and working on the first few newsletters. I also designed a brochure used to recruit SOFD volunteers.