By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Capt. Rob Gebhart will be the interim fire chief in Chehalis while the city searches for someone to fill the top post with the departure of Chief Jim Walkowski.
Chehalis City Manager Merlin MacReynold appointed Gebhart this morning.
Walkowki, longtime head of Riverside Fire Authority in Centralia has been halftime chief at the Chehalis Fire Department. He’s taken a new job in Spokane County that begins May 1.
Chehalis Fire Capt. Casey Beck said he was among those who recommended the move when MacReynold sat down this morning with the captains and Walkowski to discuss the department and its future.
“Merlin leaned right over, shook Rob’s hand and said, you got it, you start Monday,” Beck said.
Gebhart, a Chehalis firefighter for 27 years, has led the department before. He served as acting chief for about a year and a half beginning in early 2007 when Chief Bill Nacht retired. Gebhart was assistant chief below Nacht. He first became a captain in 1996.
MacReynold said the city is just starting the process to hire a permanent chief. It could take three to six months, he said.
The move comes because of Walkowski’s unexpected departure. Riverside is cutting personnel and top officers, due to sudden large decreases in revenue primarily from the reduced contribution of taxes from TransAlta’s power plant, as it winds down operations.
The Chehalis Fire Department and Riverside Fire Authority had been working more closely together, moving toward a functional consolidation. The changes won’t necessarily prevent that, according to McReynold.
“Everybody’s committed to moving forward, but obviously at a slower pace,” he said.
Gebhart, 49, said he likes the idea of filling the interim position internally, because it’s for such a short time period.
“I’m very glad Merlin made that decision,” Gebhart said. “Not specifically for me, but for the department.”