Oct. 25--CARLSBAD -- The Eddy County Commission appointed an interim fire and assistant fire chief and a secretary-treasurer to lead the Malaga Volunteer Fire Department for 90 days.
The appointments effectively reversed an earlier decision to shut down the Malaga department after firefighters there announced leaves of absence to protest a county official's role over volunteer fire departments throughout Eddy County.
Commissioner Tony Hernandez, who lives in Malaga, a rural community located about 15 miles south of Carlsbad, said the appointment of an interim fire chief ensures fire and emergency service coverage in the Malaga fire district until an election by the department's membership can be scheduled to elect a fire chief and secretary as required by state law.
The appointments come nine days after the commission fired the department's fire chief and considered the assistant fire chief's letter stating a leave of absence as his resignation.
At Thursday's special meeting, called to officially appoint the three volunteers, Commission Chairman Jack Volpato said he took issue with recent newspaper headlines stating that the governing body closed the fire department. However, following the meeting he conceded that the department was ordered closed the day of the commission meeting, but added it was not intended to be a permanent closure. It was primarily to take inventory of the department's assets, he said.
Joel Arwnine, county emergency preparedness manager
and fire administrator, told the commission on Thursday that he worked diligently with Malaga and the commission to get Malaga's fire department back on track.
He said Davis, who has years of experience as a county volunteer firefighter with the Joel Volunteer Fire Department, recently moved to Malaga and therefore is eligible to serve as the interim fire chief. He said Boles is also an experienced fire service member, and has served with the La Huerta and Joel Volunteer Fire Departments.
"They, (the Davis' and Boles) all are willing to step up and fulfill their roles for at least 90 days," Arnwine said.
He said several Malaga firefighters indicated they are willing to return to the department and respond to calls immediately.
After casting her vote to appoint the three interim fire staff, Commissioner Susan Crockett said: "I am proud to be an instrumental part of ensuring that the Malaga fire Department is back in full service to the community and the county with capable leadership following the leave of absence orchestrated by the former chief and assistant fire chief."
She added that she was pleased to recommend Davis and Boles for the interim leadership and that both men have a long and successful history with the county's volunteer fire service.
At the Oct. 15 commission meeting, in a 3-2 vote, the governing body fired Fire Chief Raymond Rios and said it considered assistant fire chief Roy Burkham's letter stating a leave of absence as his resignation. The commission also ordered the fire department closed and records turned over to the county.
Burkham said his department's action to take a leave of absence was a result of irreconcilable differences between the department and Joel Arnwine, Eddy County Emergency Preparedness manager, who also has been serving as the fire service administrator.
Hernandez, who cast one of the two dissenting votes, said he was able to avert a walkout and closure of eight more fire departments after he met with the fire chiefs in an informal meeting in Artesia last week. The chiefs have agreed to give the commission up to 90 days to rectify the issues they have with Arnwine.
They have made it clear that they want to see progress made during the 90 days or they may also walk out.
The commission's swift action on Oct. 15, came on the heels of a walkout by several fire chiefs who, although they chose to remain on the job, showed supported for Malaga Fire Department's action the previous evening.
During the Oct. 14 meeting of the Eddy County Fire Board and Fire Chiefs Association, Burkham read a statement saying his department had issues with Arnwine and that repeated requests to the commission to remove Arnwine from managing the fire departments had fallen on deaf ears.
Hernandez earlier this week that keeping Malaga Volunteer Fire Department closed is not in the best interest of the community and the vast area of the county the department serves.
The direct fallout for Malaga residents, and for any other community served by volunteer fire departments, would be an increase in their home insurance rates. Insurance companies look at the Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings, which most insurance companies use to calculate rates.
Stella Davis may be reached at (575) 628-5546.
Copyright 2013 - Carlsbad Current-Argus, N.M.
