Suspended Defiance fire chief is dismissed

2/11/2008

DEFIANCE - Defiance Fire Chief Mark Marentette was dismissed Friday for insubordination after more than a year supervising about 25 firefighters, Mayor Bob Armstrong said.

"It's just some styles of management that clashed," Mr. Armstrong said, adding that he thought the former chief handled firefighting well.

On Jan. 15, the chief was suspended indefinitely with pay.

That action occurred shortly after the chief cited American Ag Fuels following a Jan. 3 explosion and fire.

He was accused of doing so without consulting the city law director and of releasing information about the ongoing investigation without permission from his superiors.

The mayor said last night that "American Ag Fuels had very little to do with this." The termination, he said, was a result of progressive discipline.

Assistant Chief Pete Schlosser remains acting fire chief. The mayor said last night he did not have a timeline for selecting a new chief.