The Hellsgate Fire District is back to the drawing board.
After the Payson Town Council recently turned down a proposal to have the Payson Fire Department provide chief services starting in October when Hellsgate’s fire chief retires, Hellsgate’s fire board is exploring other options.
They include an alternative partnership with Payson and hiring a new, part-time chief.
The fire board was scheduled to meet Thursday night to discuss posting for a part-time chief.
Whoever is hired, they will replace Hellsgate Chief John Wisner who is retiring in October. The Star Valley-based fire district has been exploring how to move forward when he leaves.
“We saw it as an opportunity, with my retirement, to make a change,” Wisner said at last week’s Hellsgate fire board meeting.
In December, the district approached Payson and the Christopher-Kohls fire departments, neighboring districts they already work closely with, for partnership proposals.