Retired firefighter Stan Cooke returns as interim fire chief at Newman Lake

Former Spokane Valley Fire Department Battalion Chief Stan Cooke has come out of retirement to become the interim fire chief of Newman Lake Fire and Rescue.

Cooke is a familiar face to many longtime residents of Newman Lake. When he lived there in the 1990s, he was the district’s emergency medical services instructor and spent time serving on the fire district’s board of commissioners.

Cooke, who moved away from Newman Lake in 2000, retired from Spokane Valley Fire in September 2018 after a 37-year career. He was a battalion chief for 19 of those years.

Cooke said the fire district reached out to him after the previous fire chief, Keith Yamane, resigned. “I was enjoying retirement,” he said. “My name came up and they gave me a call.”

This was not the first time Cooke’s phone had rung. He’s been recruited by several other departments, including some in Oregon and Montana. But Cooke, who lives in Post Falls with his extended family nearby, said he wasn’t willing to move away from his grandchildren and turned down all the offers.

Cooke said he was attracted to the job because he would be returning to familiar territory and he wouldn’t have to move. He said the district is small, and the job wouldn’t be so time consuming that he wouldn’t have time for his grandchildren. He admits he was a little hesitant.

“I’m outside my wheelhouse,” he said. “I’ve never been in administration before.”

Cooke said he’s happy to be back on the job. “I found after I retired I still have a passion for it,” he said. “I get energized around firefighters, and I love to teach and mentor.”

He hasn’t wasted any time in doing what he can to make the volunteer fire district better. The new Station 1 built at 9324 N. Starr Road a few years ago includes four dorm rooms for resident volunteer firefighters, but it’s been a little empty.

“They only have one, but he’s leaving,” Cooke said. “My goal is to have four resident firefighters so I can furnish coverage at night and on the weekends. So far I’ve got two.”

Those two will start work in mid-May. Cooke said he’s also trying to recruit new volunteers to help respond to the fire, medical and car crash calls they receive. “It’s a large commitment for people to volunteer,” he said. “They’ve got a dedicated core of volunteers that would make any community proud.”

In a bid to make volunteering easier, Cooke has created shift volunteer work. Those who sign up will work six-hour shifts at the fire station in exchange for a small stipend. Cooke said he has signed four people up for that so far.

Cooke also plans to hire an administrative assistant, who would join him and a deputy chief as the district’s only paid staff. He’ll work on the district’s plans to build a new training facility and said there needs to be a plan put in place to repair or replace the aging Station 2.

“Station 2 on the north end of the lake has some structural issues,” he said. “It’s starting to fall in on itself. The whole thing is settling.”

Though Cooke has gotten right to work since he started April 16, he was only hired on a 90-day contract. The board of commissioners will decide what to do after that. Cooke said he might be willing to stay on longer if everything goes well.

“If it’s a good fit for both of us, I might look at a two- to three-year contract,” he said.

Cooke said it’s unusual to start a new job and not be able to do meet-and-greet events with the community. “The station is closed down to the public,” he said.

He has met individually with each firefighter, while wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing. He’s also making plans for an upcoming training day, which will also be done in masks and spaced 6 feet apart.

“It’s just tougher to do, but we’ll do it,” he said. “We’re flexible and resourceful.”

Cooke said he’s excited to be leading the Newman Lake fire district. “I have such confidence in this group of people,” he said. “I think we can grow this department.”