8 firefighters walk out in Merryville left only one firefighter at the Merryville department

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1200061806308160.xml&storylist=louisiana

1/11/2008, 9:20 a.m. CST
The Associated Press

MERRYVILLE, La. (AP) — Eight members of the Merryville Fire Department have turned in their equipment and keys, saying there is a lack of cooperation and communication between firefighters and their bosses — the fire chief and commissioners of their Beauregard Parish fire district.

"We have been trying for several months to get things going, and we have not been able to do that," said Scott Slayter, one of the eight. "There is no communications, and we don't know what else to do."

Among the reasons given for quitting was that the Merryville station was not allowed to name a fire chief, while the district's other six stations have their own chiefs.

The walkout left only one firefighter at the Merryville department.

Jay Williams, who serves as the district's chief and the Merryville chief, said he notified the 911 call center and told them to call out the entire district, not just the Merryville station, if there is a fire in Merryville.

Other commissioners, including Marvin Whiddon, who serves as the DeRidder fire chief, said the town will be provided fire protection by the district's other departments and that the vacancies will be filled with qualified firefighters.

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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com

for them to quit.

Not exactly a lot going on in Merryville.