Union Gap mayor dismisses fire chief

UNION GAP — Union Gap Mayor Jim Lemon says he dismissed the city’s fire chief last week.

Lemon tells the Yakima Herald-Republic that Bill Steele was fired last Thursday. The mayor said the reasons for the termination were confidential.

Steele served as fire chief for more than two years in the eastern Washington city of about 6,000. He declined comment Saturday but said he was exploring his options with his legal counsel.

Union Gap Police Chief Robert Almeida will be the interim fire chief until a new one is hired in coming weeks.

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