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PORT EDWARDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) -The Port Edwards Volunteer Fire Department has gone through a high number of resignations and retirements, per former staff.
According to former chief Jason Worden, he and six other members of staff have left the department since the start of the year, and claims more could be leaving soon. “I hope you all stay safe, because as of right now, I am off duty,” Worden said, addressing village residents.
He claims there have been several instances of mismanagement at the village level, and that he was denied a request to elevate a fellow staff member’s position.
“I told myself, I can’t take one more lie. Things were really rough, I asked for an apology, that apology was not given,” Worden said, who adds matters ultimately boiled over for him this week.
The village is now tasked with finding replacements for those who have left, at a time when officials say finding answers for open positions have been challenging. “If our resignations increase, we’re going to be down to a smaller staff and at least we need a certain amount to be here, and I think we will, based on the members we have,” said interim Village Administrator Duane Gau.
Gau admitted to have misused his authority when demanding in an email that a peaceful transfer of duties be made. “I have been corrected by law enforcement that I did not have that authority,” he said.
Worden, among other former and current fire department members, called the situation a ” large snowball of a problem.” “What I am representing is over 100 years of firefighter training and experience is walking out the door right now and that’s a real disservice to the community,” he added.
He says it was tough to walk away, especially with how much the department answers calls for service. Gau says he is hopeful their mutual aid agreement with Wisconsin Rapids can help the department out until it can be staffed at a higher level.
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