Bucoda firefighters quit, but they’ll stay for now

BUCODA – After quitting en masse to protest a new mayor who has been at odds with their chief, this town’s firefighters have agreed to stay on the job while officials try to find replacements.

All but one of the half-dozen or so volunteer firefighters in this south Thurston County hamlet of 650 people resigned at a town council meeting Dec. 13.

Firefighters cited problems with the incoming mayor, Kathy Martin, who has had disagreements with fire chief and next-door neighbor Kay Hughes, The Olympian newspaper reported Thursday.

When they resigned, firefighters told the council that Martin had spread vicious rumors about the town’s employees. Martin denies the accusations.

The mass resignation sparked a new controversy, with residents angrily telling firefighters they were ignoring their responsibility to the town.

Outgoing Mayor Alan Carr asked the firefighters to consider a 90-day extension, which would give Martin time to find replacements or persuade the force to stay.

After meeting with the new mayor last week, Hughes agreed to stay until April, and other firefighters said they would follow the chief’s lead.

Martin said she’ll use the 90 days to look for more volunteers, including a new chief.

“Hopefully people will step up to the plate within the 90 days,” Martin said. “They won’t be trained to take over, but if somebody says they’ll do it, we’ll look elsewhere for the training.”

The community has struggled to maintain its small volunteer force of fewer than 10 people. If the force disbands, Bucoda will have to call on neighboring fire districts in Tenino, three miles away, and Gibson Valley, five miles away.

Tenino’s fire chief said it would not be much trouble to help Bucoda through its transition, noting that the Tenino fire district already has a mutual aid agreement to help its neighbor.

“We would be glad to back them up,” chief Robin Duncan said. “The mayor has a plan, so if she follows through on her plan, they’ll be OK.”