Matlock Fire 12 confirms fines with L&I

A Fire 12 Labor and Industries inspection in April has resulted in $4,500 in fines, according to state officials.

Three serious safety violations, including no annual hose test, no annual pump test and no training or ongoing education and development and were assessed at $1,500 each, L & I’s Dina Lorraine told the Journal in an email.

Chief Mike Brown said the fines were around $45,000 at Fire 12’s regular meeting. Aug. 28.

Brown clarified in an email to the Journal he hadn’t received a final letter from L & I when he announced the fines.

“We were told that the fines are around $45,000.00 by the two people that did

the audit,” Brown stated.

The inspection happened before the current board took office.

The violations must be cured 90 days from the close of the inspection in August, according to Lorraine.

The violation for no annual pump test was fixed April 8, Lorraine said.

A monthly safety committee, headed by Commissioner Nick Jones, will also happen and was not held by past commissioners, according to Brown.

“This is a requirement,” Brown said.

Brown said at the Aug. 28 meeting the district would appeal to reduce the fines.

Brown now official chief

Commissioners appointed Brown, who had been acting fire chief, as permanent chief at the Sept. 11 meeting “pending successful negotiations of his contract,” Jones said.

“Chief Brown is not a publicly elected official, so the Board is able to appoint him,” Commissioner Trina Young said.

Commissioner Steven Ingram praised Brown’s work. Ingram said he was at the station with Brown when MACECOM called in a smoke investigation. Brown sprang into action, according to Ingram.

“Within moments, volunteers rushed in the door, fire trucks were warming up and rolling out the door,” he said.

“Until you see it, you don’t really appreciate that Fire 12 is here for you. They’re back for you,” Ingram said.

Brown said Fire 12 is averaging about four calls a day, the large majority being medical calls.

Commissioners fire suspended employees

Commissioners also terminated secretary Rachel Noga’s employment contract with cause at the meeting. Noga has been suspended without pay since May 29.

“We know there was a lot of wrongdoing. Her contract was terminated and we decided not to renew that contract,” Jones said.

The district’s former chief, Brian Walsworth, also got the official boot.

“This does not mean we are dropping our investigation,” Young said.

The Board confirmed they are still speaking regularly with the FBI about alleged fraud committed by former staff and commissioners.