Rich Hill Fire Department sees mass resignations after new chief appointment

RICH HILL, Mo. -- A leadership change at the Rich Hill Fire Department has sparked controversy and led to a wave of resignations, leaving the volunteer department with only a few members, according to statements from former firefighters.

The controversy stems from the Rich Hill City Council's decision to appoint a new fire chief.

Former firefighters allege the council bypassed more qualified candidates, failed to conduct the selection process transparently, and created a potential conflict of interest because the new chief's wife serves as president of the City Council. City officials had not publicly responded to those allegations as of Friday.

Several firefighters resigned immediately after the appointment, saying they believed the new leadership could put firefighters and the public at risk.

According to public statements from former department members, the volunteer department had 13 firefighters who responded to more than 400 calls each year.

They said only a few members remained following the resignations and warned the department will now have to rely heavily on mutual aid from neighboring fire departments.

Former firefighters also questioned the new chief's qualifications, alleging he lacks key fire service certifications, medical training and incident command experience.

Social media posts from former members also allege the city held improper meetings before the appointment and have called for state officials to investigate. No evidence supporting those allegations has been publicly released, and it is unclear whether any formal investigation has been opened.

The City of Rich Hill has not publicly addressed the resignations or responded to allegations regarding the appointment, the chief's qualifications or claims of nepotism.

It is also unclear how many active firefighters currently remain with the department or whether mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments have changed.