New York Department Shut Down, Reopened

Watch Video LEE CENTER, N.Y.-- According to Fred Van Namee, director of Oneida County Emergency Services, the Lee Center Fire Department is back in action. A Supreme Court order has been issued that will "restore things the way they were until further court proceedings take place," Van Namee said. The decision to shut down the department came Monday night by the Board of Fire Commissioners, based on the board's belief that the chief was not following proper training guidelines for new recruits. For the past 36 hours, the Town of Lee was under the watch of the Lake Delta Fire Department and nearby Taberg Department. Now today, just 36 hours after that decision, a state supreme court judge has ordered the department to be back up and running. According to the Lee Center Fire Chief, Ken Baker, the decision was made around 1:30 this afternoon by Judge Robert Julian. Baker says after several Fire Commissioner Board Members testified, he was about to take the stand himself, but didn't have to because the judge had already ruled in their favor. Today's ruling means the Lee volunteers are back at work, and are again the first responders for the Town of Lee. "I think it's a great ruling," Chief Baker said. "It shows the need for the fire department. Our major concerns were for the life and safety of our residents, but now we're back open and they have no more worries." Republished with permission of WKTV.