After briefly accepting a job in California, Northwest Fire and Rescue District Chief Jeff Piechura has decided to stay put.

The firing of a paramedic who tested positive for cocaine use during a drug test has placed Northwest Fire and Rescue District Chief Jeff Piechura at odds with the firefighter's union that has staunchly supported him in the past.

Jeff Piechura, who has been the chief of the Northwest Fire and Rescue District for 20 years, will leave at month’s end to take the top job at the fire department in Chula Vista, Calif.

Jeff Piechura, who has been the chief of the Northwest Fire and Rescue District for 20 years, will remain on the job after all.

Residents in unincorporated Pima County in Northwest Tucson got a reprieve from Rural/Metro Corp. last week when the company extended its fire protection subscription services for 60 days.

While awaiting a decision in an Arizona Supreme Court case that could affect contractual agreements between governments and businesses, the Northwest Fire District continues in a holding pattern regarding a previously proposed contract to protect the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

In the last two years, Northwest Fire/Rescue District has bought about $280,000 in equipment from United Fire Equipment, which equates to about 80 percent of the district's fire fighting supply purchases over that period, according to documents obtained from the district.

A presentation by Northwest Fire District, calling for annexations of areas within the Town of Marana, resulted in a council debate during the regular meeting on Dec. 6.

The Northwest Fire and Rescue District and Pima County Sheriff's Department are working on an agreement that would add eight to 10 of the district's paramedics to the sheriff's elite SWAT unit - and do so almost entirely at the fire district's expense.

Despite starting last fiscal year with a deficit that spiraled toward a $1 million shortfall, the Northwest Fire and Rescue District came up with $1.3 million in excess cash by year's end, according to an independent audit approved unanimously by the Governing Board at its Oct. 23 meeting.

Negotiations by the Northwest Fire and Rescue District to spend $897,000 to build a maintenance facility on land owned by Marana is stoking a larger concern among some NWFD board members and taxpayers over growing ties to the town.

The governing board of the Picture Rocks Fire District has unanimously voted to end all further study and discussions with Northwest Fire District regarding a possible merger or consolidation.

Dec. 29, 2004 - The Northwest Fire/Rescue District is currently putting together a proposal for service for the Heritage Hills Fire District governing board. However, officials from both organizations said it's premature to say Heritage Hills has any plans to change its fire service provider.

The Northwest Fire District Governing Board last week delayed indefinitely a decision on whether to provide a reduced level of emergency services at a reduced cost for the Ritz-Carlton resort and golf club.

The Northwest Fire and Rescue District's plan for improving and rearranging its fire stations and facilities could affect what homeowners pay for insurance, shell out in taxes and the emergency response times critical to the safety of more than 125,000 Marana and Northwest side residents.

The Northwest Fire and Rescue District board approved a tentative budget April 22 that if adopted next month would provide some homeowners a small drop in their tax rate.

The Northwest Fire/Rescue District governing board voted 4-1 May 28 to approve the district's budget cap at just over $15 million and to lower the district's property tax rate by three cents.

The deadline for submission of an annexation petition for the Teal Blue Trail area in unincorporated Pima County to be brought into the Northwest Fire/Rescue District has passed without enough property owners agreeing to be annexed.

The Northwest Fire District Governing Board next Tuesday will consider whether to approve a plan to provide a reduced level of emergency services at a reduced cost for the Ritz-Carlton resort and golf club.