WEST ELKTON, Ohio — An entire department of volunteer firefighters, including the chief, quit Wednesday.
ABC22Now.com reported that all but one of 26 volunteer firefighters with the West Elkton (Ohio) Gratis Township Fire Department resigned over a dispute with city officials over how their department and another handles emergency responses.
The department is one of two fire departments serving the residents in their area. The Village of Gratis Township will now be the main fire department serving both townships. According to Gratis Township Trustee Jerry Thomas, both fire departments have “had a long history of not getting along,” WDTN.com reported.
Thomas said they’re giving the volunteers a 72-hour window to reconsider their resignations.
Some residents are concerned their inability to get along is putting people at risk.
“I’m basically worried because we’re shorthanded,” Gratis Township resident Corey Blankenship said. “It puts more pressure on Gratis Fire Department because we don’t have two serving the township.”