A state agency has warned the Zoar Volunteer Fire Department and Chief Charles R. Meiser about the illegal use of uncertified firefighters on runs, and referred the matter back to Tuscarawas County for possible prosecution.
The warning followed a July 16 review of a complaint from Mark Gaynor, a former village councilman, who alleged that six men — including a convicted felon — had responded to fire calls despite a lack of required state certification. The message came in an Aug. 2 letter from Joel B. Demory, chief of investigations for the Division of Emergency Services of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The review was conducted by the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire and Transportation Services (EMS) and its executive director, Melvin R. House.