Colorado Firefighters Quit; Safety Issues Cited As Reason For Resignations

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JAKOB RODGERS
The Gazette

A dozen volunteer firefighters in Peyton turned in their badges Tuesday night, citing unresolved safety issues.


The department was left with the fire chief and a handful of volunteer firefighters, according to a release by the district's board.

A regularly scheduled fire board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled due to lack of a quorum.

Firefighters planned to voice their displeasure to the board during the meeting after the board voted Monday to retain the fire chief, who had been on paid administrative leave for two weeks while the board investigated a series of safety concerns.

Check back at gazette.com for more on this developing story.

Copyright 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning
All Rights Reserved
ProQuest SuperText
Copyright 2011 Freedom Newspapers, Inc.
February 8, 2011

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Volunteers quitting only harms the community. I went through a similar situation in a small volunteer/paid department. However, we ran a Re-Call campaign, aligning the public on our side, which in turn led to the removal of every sitting board member (first time it ever happened in CA modern history circa 1994). We had 5 people waiting in place, got them appointed via a special county procedure, then moved forward.

It is troubling that the Chief is quoted in this piece saying "I don't know what their concerns are...but I called every one of them". He's either lying, or so out of touch with his members, it's not surprising there's so much upheaval.
Good for them.
I had the same thing with the department I had belonged to. They promoted 2 fire fighter's to Lt. postions. 1 had several reports of speeding to call when not needed. The other had been on the department 18 monts.
Herb- 

I see what you are saying about hurting the community, however, you have to remember that  our safety comes first. I don't know the exact reasons they left, but having personally made that type of choice before I know it is not made lightly. I just know that at the end of a shift I want to go home to my wife and daughter.
I feel like we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg here. The chief does seem to be out of it and the media appears to be on the side of the volunteers who have resigned. I would like to be but don't know the whole story. Hope they can work it out so the community will be protected and the guys will feel like their chief officer cares about them.
In Ohio There some problems working our 240 hr. firefighters in with the Voluteer side, which in many cases is the Chief for the 240's as well. I believe we can get this thing working across the country. But I must be honest here... 240's don't want a 32 hr. Chief. They want a Chief with the knowledge for operations of a paid Proffessional Department. Seems like that is the only solution...hire some Highers to run their Operations. The respect has to be equal, for the trust of safety to be equal.

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