Disgruntled Firefighter Disrupts Happy Home

Did you miss this story in the Metro Section of the Washington Post?

The Gainesville District Volunteer Department has been dissolved and is now staffed with County Career Firefighters.

Fire Chief Bird of the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department is now without a job and a home.

Seems that a couple of the Firefighters were "let go" who, in turn, brought to the County's attention the Chief's "unorthodox housing arrangement."

Chief Bird has been at the Firehouse some thirty years and apparently at some point during those years, moved his family in to make the Firehouse their home. His wife and daughter, who is 19 now, lived there with him.

A four month audit followed. The findings were records and paperwork in disarray. They also reported the Firehouse to be an operation that appeared to disregard county staffing and safety requirements, according to the Washington Post story.

Management of the Firehouse was transferred to the county and is now staffed with Career firefighters in both stations without interruption.