Tensions between Fayetteville City Councilman Chalmers McDougald and the city fire chief flared Monday night in a council work session when Ben Major appeared to update council members on progress to increase firefighter diversity in his department. “It seems as though this department is really not willing to reach people,” McDougald said. “We are hiring on reading ability.” A black pastor elected in 2013, McDougald has repeatedly raised awareness regarding the issue of diversity in the Fire Department, which is made up of 10 percent of minorities and 4 percent women. The numbers are much lower than state and national averages.