Distress signals from Soap Lake

Things have gone from bad to worse with the Soap Lake Fire Department in less than a week. Fire Chief Dan Shields was fired for what he referred to as "personal reasons" during a Tuesday interview with the Columbia Basin Herald. Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle hasn't been available for comment on exactly why he fired Shields. The mayor has been away at a conference in the Tri Cities and is not taking media calls on his cellphone. And Shields won't say anything further because he was told by Gravelle not to talk.

As a result, 11 volunteer firefighters quit their duties with the department. This move leaves the city of about 1,500 without fire protection during the summer and fire season.

Last week, the department was gearing up for a big fundraiser to buy a new water tank for a wildland truck that was parked until a tank could be replaced, which costs about $6,600. There was plans to sell hot dogs during the hydro races last weekend, with the proceeds to go toward the water tank.

The fundraiser appears to be the center of the controversy. There are allegations, according to firefighter Brent Martin, that Mayor Gravelle accused Shields of stealing because he didn't turn in money from the fundraiser. We hope these allegations have only stemmed from simple misunderstandings.

According to the department's Facebook page, Shields was allegedly framed and had the support of his firefighters. Gravelle also accused Shields of stealing money and equipment from the city.

Kim Timke, a volunteer firefighter, told the Herald a nonprofit group, the Soap Lake Fire Department Bucket Brigade, was established as the fundraising arm of the department. She is treasurer of the group and claims Shields was not part of the nonprofit because he was a city employee and didn't know how much money was raised.

She told the Herald enough money was raised for a down payment on the tank.

We are worried about the situation for several reasons, one reason being that Soap Lake didn't have wildland fire fighting protection in the first place. Now Soap Lake has no department whatsoever, leaving its resident, homes and property at a higher risk for fire damage. The only volunteers that are left are two juveniles and a volunteer without the required license.

We hope everyone can come together and work out their differences. If there is more to the story, as there often is, we hope the department can recover quickly and reorganize for the good of Soap Lake.

So much is at stake if they don't.

- Editorial Board