Wash. Volunteers Walk; Skeleton Crew Left

June 27--SOAP LAKE -- The Soap Lake fire chief has reportedly been fired by Mayor Raymond Gravelle.

Brent Martin, a six-year firefighter with the department, said 11 volunteers with the department including himself have also walked out and turned in their equipment Tuesday, leaving the city without a department.

In a phone call to now former Chief Dan Shields, he said he is no longer with the department "for personal reasons" and was told by Gravelle not to talk to anyone about what happened.

Multiple department volunteers are telling a different story, confirming Shields was fired Tuesday.

Gravelle was attending a conference in the Tri-Cities and could not be reached for comment.

Martin said the department had been raising money to replace a faulty water tank on their brush truck, which has been out of service for the past month. He said Gravelle accused Shields of stealing money because he did not turn in the funds raised over to the city. Martin added he did not feel Gravelle was supporting the department's efforts to replace the tank.

"We went ahead and provided for our fire department when he would not," Martin said.

Kim Timke, who also walked away from the department, said a non-profit business, called the Soap Lake Fire Department Bucket Brigade, was set up to raise funds for the tank. The group was able to raise enough for a down payment to purchase the tank. Timke said Shields had no part in the business because he was a city employee. Timke is the treasurer for the non-profit, adding Shields had no idea how much money was raised.

Timke said Gravelle allegedly told Shields all of the funds needed to be turned over to the city.

She also said without Shields as chief, they had to walk out.

"It's like a slap in the face to all our volunteers," she said. "We stand 100 percent behind Chief Shields."

On the Facebook page for the department, a post was written stating Shields has been framed and Gravelle claims he stole money and equipment from the city.

Debbie Bowen has reportedly been named the new chief, but is currently on disability leave, according to Martin, leaving the city without a chief.

Martin said the remaining volunteers include two juveniles and another that does not have a required license.

Shield was hired in January and given 60 days to improve the department. Gravelle previously said Shields exceeded expectations.

Copyright 2013 - Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, Wash.