BUCKEYE LAKE, Ohio — The lights were off and no one was working when 10TV stopped by the Buckeye Lake Fire Department last Wednesday. The fire chief resigned and several firefighters quit.
Since then, the mayor has appointed an interim chief.
“Was caught off guard with the resignation of former Chief Keisha Amspaugh. I was not surprised when it happened that some of the younger members of the department resigned. They also are on her other department that she is chief of,” said Mayor Linda Goodman.
Goodman said she never wanted the fire department to be unstaffed, but had no choice but to ask other departments to help on short notice.
Residents recently voted on an increased mill levy. The fire department has a budget of $880,000.
Interim Fire Chief Jerry Brooks says there are currently six firefighters and two volunteers in the department. The village is working on hiring additional firefighters.
“We try to keep two, and that counts myself as one of the two. There might be nights when we have to drop down to one. We are trying to keep it staffed with at least one until we can get new members,” Brooks said, admitting even two isn’t enough.
Goodman says she appointed Brooks because he previously worked on the department and has years of experience.
Brooks worked at the Columbus Division of Fire for more than three decades. He currently works at Madison Township in Licking County part-time. He also previously worked at Buckeye Lake Fire Department, and was dismissed.
“I was dismissed unfairly. I contested it and that is where we were at coming back,” Brooks said.
Brooks would not say why he was dismissed.
10TV has requested his personnel files from his previous departments and has yet to receive them.
Brooks says he is considering applying for the permanent job and would like to stabilize the department for residents' safety.
“We are definitely growing as a department. Right now we had a setback. We have to take a step back, clear the air, take care of getting everything situated and rebuild from there,” he said.
The mayor says they hope to name a permanent chief in 90 days.