A volunteer firefighter for the Mauriceville-McLewis fire department said Friday morning that 16 members of the department have resigned. Richard Jones said he submitted a resignation list with the signatures of the volunteers to the office of Emergency Services District No. 4. The ESD 4 collects property taxes for the volunteer fire department. The ESD 4 board of directors, appointed by Orange County Commissioners Court, oversees the department operations.
Jones said losing the 16 volunteers is hurting the fire department and the community.
The resignations began coming in early September after the ESD board demoted Fire Chief David Roberts. Board President Spencer Fuss told KOGT after the demotion that Roberts had not made enough progress. The board appointed James Journeay as chief.
About three years ago ESD 4 combined the two separate volunteer fire departments for Mauriceville and McLewis. Roberts had been the chief of McLewis and Journeay had been chief of Mauriceville. The combined fire department still has two stations.
According to volunteer Jones, the firefighters who have resigned include officers and volunteers qualified as arson investigators and emergency medical technicians.
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