Palominas Fire Chief Mark Matthews has resigned due to health issues, not an investigation into a series of brush fires that happened earlier this year, board president Robert Montgomery confirmed Monday.
Matthews started as fire chief in November, 2014 and under his administration, with board support, the district reversed its fortunes. Prior to Matthews and interim chief Steve Abel, Palominas Fire District Board meetings were often settings for heated arguments, making the district a target of ire from state and local officials and the focus of concern for local residents.
Matthews is headed back to Oregon, Montgomery said Monday, where he will rejoin family members. The outgoing chief is undergoing treatment for cancer symptoms, he said.