The city faces $10,800 in fines from the state for safety violations at the Warrenton Fire Department.
The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation after anonymous complaints. It fined the city $7,500 for not ensuring a proper respiratory protection program, $2,100 for not ensuring employees wore the right protective equipment, $420 for improper training, $420 for not maintaining a safety committee, $180 for a lack of equipment inspections and $180 for not keeping a hazard communication program.
Tim Demers, the former fire chief, resigned amid the investigation. The findings come shortly after the city hired Brian Alsbury, the former deputy fire chief and volunteer, to replace Demers.
Investigators specifically took issue with the city’s use of the term “combat firefighter” for volunteers to keep them engaged while they completed the required training to combat structure fires.