Personnel matter leads to resignations
FirefighterNation Staff
PARIS, Maine — The Paris Fire Department is short 18 firefighters after a mass resignation on Wednesday night according to NEWS CENTER Maine.
18 Paris firefighters resigned after a meeting with the town manager and a human resources spokesperson over the reversal of a decision by the fire chief.
Earlier, Fire Chief Mark Blaquire made a personnel decision to strip a firefighter of his rank, a decision endorsed by several officers according to the Sun Journal.
Details regarding the decision were not made known but former fire chief and firefighter Jon Longley told NEWS CENTER Maine that Chief Blaquire made the decision to ensure the safety of personnel.
On Wednesday evening town manager Dawn Noyes overturned Blaquire’s action.
Longley told Sun Journal that the meeting became “sassy and lippy,” and ended with most of the firefighters in attendance resigning and turning in their gear.
An unnamed firefighter told NEWS CENTER Maine that the community is not in danger as firefighters from neighboring towns will respond to emergencies.
