Floyd County fire department standing down over funding dispute with mayor
Republished from WEKU.
Members of an eastern Kentucky volunteer fire department are standing down over a dispute with the mayor over funding for equipment and gasoline. Brandon Salisbury is the assistant chief of the Martin Fire Department, which is in Floyd County. He said they first reached mutual aid agreements with other area fire departments to cover their territory, most of which is outside Martin.
“We’re doing this only in the interest of our community members, we can’t continue to run. It’s dangerous for them, and it’s dangerous for us to continue to run the way we’ve been running.”
Salisbury said none of the firefighters are paid for their work and sometimes they’ve had to use their own funds to pay for gasoline for the fire trucks. He said three of the department’s fire engines need repairs.
“What would the mayor have to do to make things right?”
“Unfortunately, I think, with the morale and everything, the only way for him to make it right would be stepping down.”
Mayor Sam Howell did not return a call from WEKU.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.