Corbett asks for a 2nd assistant fire chief

By Terry Murry on Thursday, December 19th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett initially did not fund a budget request to hire a second assistant chief for Pendleton Fire & Ambulance. He’s changed his mind after discussions with Chief Tony Pierotti. He went before the city council this week to request the position be added.

Calls to emergency dispatch continue to increase dramatically. Both Pierotti and Corbett say many of these calls don’t qualify as emergencies, but do need to be addressed. The problem is Pierotti and Assistant Chief Valorie Tomren, who also serves as fire marshal, need extra help to handle them.

“As these calls have continued to climb, he (Pierotti) has continued to approach me about this,” Corbett said. “I’ve found a way to be able to make this happen for him.”

Corbett said that funding for a second assistant chief can be achieved by amending the pay-back period for the department’s ladder truck.

The calls to 911 to which Corbett refers need help finding resources.

“They’re more related to people who need assistance back and forth to their car, or they need lift assistance, or there are mental health issues that are involved,” he said. “There are special needs that are going unmet that probably would be better served by a mental health provider that our staff doesn’t have the technical expertise to provide.”