Career-volunteer battle in Loudoun County, Virginia. Staffing pulled from Middleburg VFD after 'heated' words.

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Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management

Leesburg Today is reporting that Loudoun County (VA) Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management career firefighters were removed from the Middleburg fire station eight days ago and are operating out of firehouses at Aldie and Philomont. The paper reports that details of the incident have not been spelled out, but what both sides seem to agree on is that there have been increasing tensions that resulted in a dispute on the evening of July 13.

From the article published yesterday:

Fire-rescue spokesperson Mary Maguire would only say that the volunteer company "has indicated the career staffing was no longer needed."

Paul Draisey, treasurer of the volunteer department whose son Brad is its president, acknowledged there were "heated" words between the two sides, but said the company did not ask the career staff to permanently leave.

"No one empowered to act on behalf of the corporation, our nonprofit, said to leave," Draisey said. "We have not said, ‘pack your stuff and go.'"

Draisey indicated that the volunteers have beefed up staffing since the career firefighters departed, but Loudoun County Chief Keith Brower told the paper that other nearby companies will be dispatched simultaneously with Middleburg as a backup. Brower also said, "We are willing to go back as they need us."

According to the article, career staffing had been increased at Middleburg's request after a number of volunteers resigned last August because of concerns raised by the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Commission.