Four Weare Fire Rescue members have resigned from their posts after a meeting in which the Weare interim fire chief refused to step down.

Capt. Scott Dinsmore, firefighter Dave Richards, and EMT/ firefighters Wanda McLain and Julie Bickford all left the department after a Board of Fire Wards meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

After Fire Chief Bob Richards resigned Dec. 1, an interim was needed to fill the position until the annual Town Meeting. Board of Fire Wards Chairman Bill Tiffany was appointed to the position after much discussion, under the condition that he refrain from incident command at emergency scenes, as he does not have the credentials to be chief.

When Tiffany was asked to resign on Monday, he said the town attornies advised him not to do anything until he heard back from them.

When Bob Richards originally took the job of fire chief, he told everyone he would be chief until he turned 45. He turned 45 in September and stayed on as chief for another couple of months to work on two projects. “It was to the point where it was more a job than anything. I was tired of doing administrative work,” said Bob Richards. “I just wanted to go out and wash the truck.”

Many department firefighters and EMTs have questioned why this appointment was made, instead of appointing fire commissioner Raymond Eaton. According to Dave Richards, Eaton has the proper credentials and is well-liked by the entire department.

“Ray said he didn’t want the chief job before interim was even discussed,” said Tiffany. After Tiffany was appointed interim chief, the board discovered through “gossip” that Eaton did want the job. During the meeting, firefighter Ricky Hippler cited N.H. RSA 154.5:

“I. The chief fireward, engineer or fire chief who is appointed, rather than elected in any town, village district, precinct, city or area shall be appointed for an indefinite period of time or for a definite term, as determined by the legislative body, and the tenure of office shall depend upon good conduct and efficiency. The chief fireward, engineer or fire chief shall be technically qualified by training or experience and shall have ability to command firefighters and hold their respect and confidence.” “The general consensus (for this RSA) right now is no,” said Hippler.

According to Dave Richards, morale within the department has been terrible.

“I think a lot of it started when our voting rights were taken from us for captains, deputy chiefs, etc., and I think a lot of morale would come back if the board and interim chief would listen to what we have to say. “We feel as though we could actually have a team (with Eaton),” said Dave Richards.

“The members have no say in this Fire Department anymore. None. They just want to be part of this department,” said Dinsmore. “If this department doesn’t start pulling together now, there will be a lot of people walking.”

Due to the tension between members within the department, EMT Newell Bailey said there were many times in the last year when mutual aid was used. Local fire and rescue crews were in the area, but didn’t want to be at the same scene together. Many department members also see him as being hard-nosed.

“How do we look when we go into a house and the oxygen tank is empty?” said Bailey. “Wanda, how did you feel when you sat on that needle? Yeah, I am hard on people.”

According to fire Lt. Harry Lamb, in the last year, many firefighters also ignored standard operating guidelines.

“This is why we’re so unpopular,” said Lamb, “because we try to enforce these things.”

“When are are we going to go back to acknowledging the things we’ve done right instead of all the things we’ve done wrong?” said McLain.

“I hope things can get smoothed out enough so the town doesn’t go unprotected,” said Bob Richards.

“We all hold grudges,” said Hippler. “This is 2009. Let’s start a new year and new slate.”