Author: Hauser Lake FPD

Fire protection district in Hauser, Idaho.

Press Release: Chief Simms to Retire

September 14, 2020

Hauser, Idaho — Fire Chief Larry Simms, Jr. will this month retire from the Hauser Lake Fire Protection District. Chief Simms has served Hauser and Kootenai County as a Firefighter/EMT for 34 years. He joined the Hauser Lake Fire Department as a Volunteer in 1986 and quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant Engineer. He continued to serve as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for 13 more years. In 1999, the Hauser Lake Fire Commissioners hired Larry, as their first paid Fire Chief.

Larry has served the department and community with honor and distinction. He has been a member of the North Idaho Fire Chiefs, the Kootenai Fire Chiefs, and the Idaho Fire Chiefs and has held numerous officers’ positions within each organization. Chief Simms was at the forefront of coordinating the cooperative efforts of neighboring fire departments to create what we now call “Mutual Aid Assistance.” An accomplished writer, he was instrumental in the department and Kootenai County Emergency Medical Services Systems in receiving State and Federal grants in excess of 1.5 million dollars. 

Chief Simms’ service to our community will be recognized during a public Retirement Celebration and Open House on September 20, 2020 at the Hauser Lake Fire Station. The event will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with a formal ceremony at 2:00. The Hauser Lake Fire Station is located at 10728 N Hauser Lake Road in Hauser, Idaho. Panhandle Health District’s health and safety guidelines will be followed and the event is subject to change with the circumstances. Event details are posted on hauserfire.org and Facebook as will any changes.

Please also see the invitation also posted on this site.

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~SK, JR

Retirement Celebration and Open House for Chief Simms

Larry Simms served 34 years with the Hauser Lake Fire Protection District

The public is invited to attend the Retirement Celebration and Open House from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on September 20, 2020 at the fire station.

TEXT VERSION:

Join us in recognizing LARRY SIMMS for 34 Years of Dedicated Service to the Hauser Lake Fire Protection District

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION AND OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, the 20th of September 2020
From 1 to 4 pm with a Formal Presentation at 2 pm
Hauser Lake Fire Station,10728 N Hauser Lake Rd, Hauser, Idaho
Parking is available just east of the station at the Hauser Lake Boat Launch.
Light refreshments and beverages will be safely served. Weather is unpredictable; please plan for rain, snow or shine.
Panhandle Health District’s health and safety guidelines will be followed.
Plan subject to change with the circumstances.
Any changes will be posted on hauserfire.org and facebook.com/HauserLakeFire

Hauser Fire Rescues Doe From Lake

Captain Mobbs and the victim, by Brian Plonka, Spokesman-Review.

The Hauser Lake volunteer first responders recently saved a deer which had fallen through the ice. The story was covered by the Spokesman Review and KHQ. We shared the story from S-R on the Hauser Lake Fire Protection District’s Facebook page and elicited some very nice responses:

Here is a link to the story on the Spokesman Review: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/jan/16/oh-deer-rescuers-on-thin-ice-at-hauser-lake/

Here is the story on KHQ.com, including a video by Captain Mobbs during the rescue. Click image to open new window.

Screenshot of video from KHQ.com. Click to visit https://www.khq.com/news/video-crews-rescue-doe-that-fell-through-ice-at-hauser/video_0da0d0a8-399a-11ea-b57e-9f6be1a7bd1d.html

Page added January 21, 2020.

2019 Breakfast with Santa Donors

Thank you to everyone for another successful year at Breakfast with Santa! While it is impossible to recognize all of the individuals who contributed to this great cause, we can identify many of the businesses who did so. Please consider doing business with these companies, that their kindness and generosity might multiply and circle around.

In totally random order, the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary would like to thank the following businesses for their support of Breakfast with Santa:

  • Lookout Pass Ski Patrol
  • Andy Cline: Allstate Insurance
  • Western States Caterpillar
  • Hauser Lake Water Association
  • Links Golf
  • River City Physical Therapy
  • Saturday Night Productions
  • Scentsy Independent Consultant Deborah Knuckles
  • Allinol
  • Axis Spine
  • Hauser Market
  • Hauser Lions Club
  • Post Falls Family Medicine
  • Axis pine Center
  • David Hillman
  • River City Physical Therapy
  • Champion Concrete
  • Dee’s Boss (uh, LeAnne, is this a business?)
  • Sysco
  • Napa
  • Zip’s
  • Cravens Coffee
  • Upscale Mail

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
~ JR

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

We have it on good authority that Santa is making a visit to the Hauser area on December 20 AND he will be on one of OUR fire trucks!!! He is taking toy wishes from the kids, passing out candy canes, AND taking donations for the Post Falls Food Bank!!!

Santa’s schedule is available on our website (below) and fliers are posted at the Hauser Fire Station. Don’t miss it!

Please share this 2019 Santa Run flyer with others in Hauser Lake.

Santa’s Schedule: Hauser Lake, December 20, 2019 from 4:45 to 8:00 PM

4:45 PM – Hauser Lake Fire Station
5:10 – Westside Resort
5:25 – Waterford Estates
5:40 – Sheltered Court
5:55 – Rice Road/Love Court
6:15 – Nine Bark Rd
6:45 – Cloverleaf/Kathleen
7:10 – Southview Terrace
7:30 – D-Mac’s
8:00 – Embers on the Lake

Breakfast with Santa 2019

Each December, the Hauser Lake Fire Department hosts this fund raising event, in memory of Shalena, to help a local family in need.

Shalena
Shalena was taken by cancer but her memory lives on through this treasured community event in Hauser Lake.

Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa is an annual fundraiser and community-building event sponsored by the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary. The event is held on the second Sunday of each December. Over 1,000 people are served each year; attendance increases steadily as more and more friends and neighbors discover this terrific event as a way to get into the holiday spirit. Click here for public comments about this great event.

  • What: Community fundraiser which includes a raffle, visits and photos with Santa Claus, and a fantastic breakfast served by the fire fighters with help from their families, friends, and 4-H groups
  • Why: Proceeds help a local family with a child who suffers from a serious, often terminal disease.
  • When: Second Sunday in December, from 7 am to 1 pm.
  • Where: The Hauser Lake Fire Station at 10728 N. Hauser Lake Rd., Hauser, Idaho
  • Served: All-you-can-eat sausage, eggs, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, coffee and more
  • How much: A suggested donation of $3 per person or $10 for an entire family

This year’s breakfast

Raffle

Prizes for the raffle, which is held each year during the Breakfast with Santa, are created, filled, and donated by the Auxiliary members and other local citizens and businesses. Special thanks go to the Auxiliary members for their valuable contributions.

Share and help us even more!

Please help make the event a success by promoting the event. Share the Facebook event or this web page with your friends, family, colleagues, coworkers…anyone and everyone!

You can also help us help this family by sharing the flyer each year (currently not available).

  • 2020 Breakfast with Santa flyer – picture (check back in November)
  • 2020 Breakfast with Santa flyer – PDF file (check back in November)

How Breakfast with Santa Started

Each December, the Hauser Lake Fire Department hosts this fund raising event to help a local family in need. John and Betty Mobbs started the event in 1985 when they worked to raise money to help alleviate medical bills and financial distress for the family of a Hauser Lake volunteer firefighter, Gary, whose daughter was diagnosed with cancer.

Shalena lost her battle but her memory lives on with the Breakfast. Shalena’s Breakfast With Santa has become an annual tradition within the community of Hauser, Idaho. With help from area businesses and North Idaho citizens, proceeds go to a family with a child diagnosed with a serous illness. The children’s illnesses are often terminal.

See also the 2001 interview with Gary Mobbs about Breakfast with Santa.

Start Your Own “Breakfast With Santa”

To suggest a family as next year’s beneficiary or for questions regarding Breakfast with Santa, email santa@hauserfire.org.

Video

khq-screenshot-400w

Thanks to KHQ channel 6 for letting us share this fun, 2 minute video with you. KHQ Channel 6 did a little story about Breakfast with Santa on the event’s 25th anniversary. Gary Mobbs and Lisa Wendle are interviewed.

Page last updated January 21, 2020.

Shop to support the HLVFD!

Do you shop on Amazon? Did you know that a significant portion of your orders through Amazon can be donated to the Hauser Lake Fire Auxiliary, which is used to support the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department and, therefore, the Hauser Lake community?

When you shop for the holidays, instead of going to amazon.com, simply start at smile.amazon.com/ch/82-0473450, and AmazonSmile will donate to Hauser Lake Fire Auxiliary!

Click the image above to start shopping at Amazon AND support the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary in Hauser, Idaho.

Burn Permits and Restrictions

Questions and answers about fires and burning in Hauser Lake.

By Chief Simms

When do I need a burning permit?

Permits for burning are required during the Idaho Closed Burning Season which is usually from May 10 through October 20. Recreational fires do not require a permit but can be no larger than 3 feet in diameter and no more than 2 foot high in fuel. Outside of that time frame, as long as there is not a Burn Ban in effect, no permit is needed. Please note that the State of Idaho sometimes does extend the permit season beyond those dates, so this can change from time to time.

Where can I get a permit?

Permits, when required, for hand stacked yard waste may be obtained online or at the fire station.

This the ‘self service’ online burn permit (and renewal) available as long as burning is allowed, for free, through the IDOL: burnpermits.idaho.gov

It is important that the permit holder has a permit in possession when they are burning. If you have trouble with the link, you can also still fill out a paper form, found in the white cabinet in the front of the Hauser Lake Fire Station.

All other types of permits (slash, machine stacked slash, etc.) need to be obtained from the Idaho Department of Lands, 3258 West Industrial Loop, Coeur d’Alene.

What if no one is at the fire station to issue a permit?

Please fill out the form in the white box/cabinet at the front of the fire station. Fill out two copies, one to take with you and one to leave in the box. You can also use the online link shown above to obtain a permit.

What does a permit cost?

Permits in the Hauser Lake Fire District are issued at no cost.

Will the fire department still come out if I am burning with a permit?

Even if you have a permit the fire department may still respond if called. If there is a complaint due to smoke from your fire we may have to extinguish the fire even if you have a permit.

When is burning banned?

When weather conditions dictate burning may be banned, which means no open flames of any kind. Watch for Burn Ban signs as you drive into the area for a ban notice.

Are there any other restrictions?

Yes!

  • The only items you can burn are wood and paper products;
  • you must call the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality at 208-666-4609 or visit their website;
  • you must have shovel and water on hand;
  • and you must be the property owner.

Page last updated January 21, 2020.