Representatives of Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue (BIFR) returned to the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 28 to speak further about ongoing issues with the department. Several department board members and volunteer firefighters also attended the meeting.
Kenneth McCaskill, BIFR’s acting chief, submitted a formal statement to the board responding to commissioners’ questions and previously expressed concerns about the department’s past performance and leadership issues.
In the statement, BIFR said that the department’s board of directors had not been informed of the ongoing issues plaguing the department by the fire chief and board chairman in the eight months that passed since the department was put on probation and therefore could not act to address the commissioners’ ongoing concerns. BIFR also said the board lacks the authority to select or dismiss chiefs, which it says contributed to its high turnover rate for leadership.
“Recruiting all membership roles has been challenging at most of Macon County’s volunteer fire departments and is not a topic unfamiliar to the commissioners,” the statement read. “BIFD [BIFR], like other fire departments, has over the past 40-plus years fallen below the required number recommended by the state standards, but we have always rectified the deficiency … BIFD’s contract with Macon County may give cause for contract termination, but it has no stipulation as to how often this can occur, be corrected and reoccur.”
McCaskill said since the May 22 meeting, the department dropped to 18 fully trained members, again falling short of the required 19. He also talked about how the department was examining options for recruiting and training, advertising at meetings, fundraisers and on social media.
“We hope to request and be able to place some local announcements in our local churches that are Burningtown-based, telling them what we need, where we stand, what’s going on, giving them an update … this is a multi-outlet outreach,” McCaskill said. “We talked about doing some roadside outreach … to keep our community informed … Talk about getting community members’ input. Do they want us to exist as an entity, do they support us and who we can recruit while doing that.”
“We have three to four hours of weekly in-house training or a class offered by Southwestern,” McCaskill said. “We have not been getting the response we need from Southwestern. I think all of our departments are struggling to get those hours … which qualifies a person to enter a burning structure.”
In a formal request to the board, BIFR said, “Do not terminate our contract and do not attempt to force a merger with another fire department. Allow us six to 12 months to demonstrate diligent progress with corrective actions in coordination with leadership support from Cowee Fire Department. Updates on our progress can be provided at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners … if at any time in the future, be that in six weeks or six months, BIFD’s Board of Directors surmise we are incapable of reaching a timely resolution to our deficiencies we will inform the county Board of Commissioners and reevaluate a merger with Cowee Fire or another fire department.”
Commissioner Gary Shields asked the county attorney whether the county would be opened up to liability if it granted BIFR the time it requested.
“Not as long as it is covered by the Cowee Fire Department,” said attorney Eric Ridenour. “The statute says that it has to be willful and wanton negligence. At this point we know there is a problem, but it has been covered … as long as Cowee is engaged to cover it should be fine.”
Commissioner Barry Breeden asked whether the department has had any luck recruiting younger members, concerned about the department’s ability to recruit and retain members as older members age out.
McCaskill said while many of the members are older, the department also had younger members being recruited, some of which were in attendance.
“Last week, this is what we were looking for, some attentiveness,” said Chairman Josh Young. “I’d like to set a date … I want you guys to stay on your feet, but I agree with Commissioner John Shearl, I’m not willing to give it six months to a year … If we’re willing to give you a hard date, and when that date comes, if we’re not fully satisfied with our contract … there needs to be a crystal-clear mode of a merger or acquisition.”
“I’m inclined to make a motion that we give them to July 31,” Shearl said. “They come up with an agreement to compensate Cowee Fire Department for their calls, we still have to page Cowee Fire Department as first out on these calls. July 31, I think they should have two inspections by the fire marshal, and if they’re not up to the Macon County contract with the fire service at that department, we have no option but to take action.”
Breeden said, “It’s extremely hard. Both of these fire departments are in my district, district three. It’s a very difficult decision. I feel like what we do up here a lot of times is we beat a dead horse and then we kick a can down the road, and this time I’m just not willing to do that.”
Breeden moved to terminate the contract with BIFR, which was voted down by Commissioners Danny Antoine, Young and Shields with Breeden and Shearl voting in favor.
Following the vote, Young moved to establish a drop-dead date of July 31 following the department’s mandatory meeting in July to call for another vote on whether to continue or dissolve the contract, agreeing with Shearl that the outcome of that vote would depend on BIFR actions like improving training and recruitment and determining a way to compensate Cowee for responding to calls. The motion passed unanimously.