The Victoria Volunteer Fire Department is back in action as tensions between fire Chief Justin Parsons and town Mayor Barry Dooley have been resolved.
“After some long consultations with Minister Pike and his delegation… we’ve come to an agreement,” Parsons said Friday afternoon.
On June 26, Parsons and 20 other firefighters resigned from their positions after the town accused him of breaking into a heritage property during a wildfire in the nearby town of Adam’s Cove.
Parsons told CBC that the department was looking for a better water pump and broke the lock on the building to retrieve one from an out-of-commission fire truck. He said he replaced it and gave a new key to the heritage society.
But, a week later, the town sent him a letter asking him to apologize to council.
There was a tense confrontation in Victoria, N.L., on Tuesday as the mayor, volunteer firefighters, and residents had it out at the town fire hall. A tangly backstory involving a broken lock exposed bitter divisions within the town. CBC News cameras rolled as the mayor, fire chief, and fire chief’s mother hurled accusations and competing narratives in front of a frustrated crowd.
Parsons and the other firefighters announced their resignation to a large crowd of concerned residents and the mayor, resulting in an argument and heated exchanges.
On June 24, the province stepped in and sent Municipal Affairs Minister Paul Pike to set things straight.
Friday afternoon, Parsons and Dooley sat side by side and said the conflict was over.
Dooley said they had a positive meeting with Pike.
“I appreciate where some of the concerns are coming from the fire department [and] the reason why they did what they did,” said Dooley.
‘Very proud day,’ says fire chief
He said they still have some more consultations with Municipal Affairs, but otherwise are moving forward and going back to normal.
“We’ve come to an agreement that we’re going to work together with Municipal Affairs to get these issues and concerns rectified,” said Parsons, adding he is happy to have the department back in full service.
“All of our 24 members are fully reinstated and ready to answer the call,” said Parsons. “It’s very proud day here for us.”
While Dooley said there are some regrets from the situation getting so intense, he said it might have needed to happen for a resolution.
“That’s sometimes what it takes is … for the pot to boil over for everyone to come together and say, ‘Look, we need to resolve this,'” said Dooley.
Parsons also said he doesn’t regret how things played out.
“It had to come to something like that in order to get the full attention of Municipal Affairs and members of the public in the province,” said Parsons.
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