Eight Iowa Firefighters Resign Over Ambulance Dispute

Several volunteer firefighters quit Glenwood Fire & Rescue this week after a dispute involving the city's ambulance service.

Eight volunteers resigned following the Glenwood Fire Association' meeting Monday, according to local radio station KMAland.com. The members were considering removing management of the ambulance service from the fire chief to an EMT.

"In the Monday night meeting of the association," Fire Chief Butch Fidler told KMA, "we decided to table the bylaws, and seek an attorney's opinion on it. After that, there were a few attacks that went on back-and-forth between the EMS people and fire people. Ultimately, the fire people decided to resign because of it."

Three of the firefighter said they were leaving because of jobs outside the community, but the other five quit due to Monday's dispute. 

The issues between the fire and ambulance service were brought to the city's attention in 2013, firefighters said. 

"During that time, those issues continued to fester," Firefighter Jessie Lundvall said. "Within the department, there were personnel issues, leading up to the event where the resignations began. Those personnel issues became so significant that it forced these firefighters to decide whether they were going to remain as volunteer firefighters, or resign to protect themselves and their families."

She said she left due to safety concerns, and threats about lawsuits.

"I don't want to lessen their importance," said Paramedic Supervisor Scott Brown said, after firefighters asked that an EMT take over the group. "The EMTS are very important, and very skilled in what they do. But, you can't manage an advanced level service with a basic EMT. You've got to have somebody that's familiar with protocols at the advanced level. You have to have somebody that's knowledgeable on state regulations, and state protocols, and somebody that's able to train at the advanced level you're providing care at."

The fire chief said the remained 11 firefighters are the most active members of the department and they will call in assistance from other departments when needed.