State Fire Marshal investigating staff shortage at Stanley Fire Department after department shake-up

STANLEY, N.C. — The North Carolina State Fire Marshal launched an investigation into the Stanley Fire Department after nearly all workers walked off the job in solidarity with the fired Assistant Fire Chief.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office stated that state law requires single-station departments to employ at least 15 firefighters.

Nearly all volunteer and eligible firefighters turned in their gear on Tuesday after the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Chief were fired.

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Jason Tyson, Director of Communications for the Office of the State Fire Marshal, said the office received several phone calls and emails regarding the situation in Stanley.

“We have heard that the numbers are below 10 members at this point, but we have not verified that information in person,” he said in a statement.

If the department does not meet the requirement, it will face a six-month non-compliance period. Unless people are hired and the issues are corrected, the department will be put on a six-month probation. If staffing issues prevail, the department will not be recognized by the Department of Insurance.

>>> See the full statement from the Office of the State Fire Marshal:

“The Office of the State Fire Marshal is aware and have taken several phone calls and emails on the situation at Stanley. We have heard that the numbers are below 10 members at this point, but we have not verified that information in person.

“The department is a single station and requires a minimum of 15 eligible firefighters. (”Eligible Firefighter” means all persons 18 years of age or older who are firefighters as defined by NC law (G.S. 58-86-2).

“If it is found that the department is below 15 eligible firefighters, the department would be placed in non-compliance for a six-month period. If after that time has passed and the issues that were found during our visit are not corrected, the department will go to a six-month probation. If after that time all issues are not corrected properly, then the Insurance rating would be reassigned as a Class 10 rating, which is considered unrecognized.”

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