By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• More than half of the volunteer Danielson Fire Department in Connecticut resigned this week amid a dispute over the borough’s decision to open the fire chief hiring process to outside candidates, officials said.
• Interim Chief Jason Burgess and Deputy Chief Ryan Kelleher are among at least 16 members who have stepped down, leaving only about 12 personnel remaining.
• The resignations followed controversy after borough leaders rejected internal applicants and broadened the search for a new chief.
• Borough officials said they are coordinating mutual aid agreements and working urgently to maintain uninterrupted emergency response.
• Officials plan to accelerate recruitment and assess staffing and certification gaps while reviewing leadership appointments.
DANIELSON, CT — More than half of the volunteer Danielson Fire Department resigned this week after a dispute erupted over the borough’s decision to seek external candidates for the position of fire chief, officials said.
Interim Chief Jason Burgess, Deputy Chief Ryan Kelleher and at least 14 other members submitted resignations or retirements after borough leaders opened the chief selection process to applicants outside the department, a move that senior department members rejected.
The departures have left the volunteer force with about a dozen remaining members, including only a few certified firefighters and emergency medical personnel, Burgess said.
Borough officials said they are urgently working to ensure uninterrupted emergency response, confirming existing mutual aid agreements and coordinating with neighboring departments to cover calls while staffing issues are addressed.
Leaders also said they plan to identify certification gaps, deploy resources where needed and accelerate recruitment of qualified candidates, and they scheduled a council meeting to discuss appointing new leadership to stabilize the department.
The borough’s actions and the resulting resignations have drawn concern among residents about fire protection coverage and the department’s future operations.