By Cliff Hightower
Chattanooga Times Free Press

DAYTON, Tenn. — Allegations of deception and lack of leadership in the Dayton Fire Department have led to the retirement of the city fire chief, officials said Tuesday.

A report by the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service said "serious leadership issues" existed in the department and said a good, progressive leader is needed.

Former fire chief Jack Arnold signed retirement papers last week after almost 39 years of service, city manager Frank Welch said.

Mr. Welch would not comment on the contents of the report prepared by Gary West, MTAS's fire management consultant, and released Friday.

"The report speaks for itself," he said.

According to the report, Dayton firefighters in 2001 borrowed nozzles and other equipment from another department and placed them on two city firetrucks as a way to deceive ISO inspectors. ISO evaluates local fire protection and its ratings are used to determine the cost of homeowners insurance.

The report cited internal conflict, lack of clear leadership or vision and a fire chief who slept on the job while working the midnight-to-8 a.m. shift.

"Obviously, not much work is occurring on third shift and they are basically getting paid to come to work and sleep," Mr. West wrote.

City officials said Mr. Arnold's salary was $38,009.40. A review of his personnel records Tuesday showed no disciplinary actions, commendations, training records or performance evaluations.

"We don't actually evaluate people," Mr. Welch said. "We just see if the job gets done."

Mr. Arnold, reached by phone, said he would not comment.

City officials asked MTAS to perform a detailed report on the city's fire department almost three months ago. City leaders wanted to know whether building a new fire station on the north end of the city would help improve the city's ISO rating of 4.

Mr. West said Tuesday the city's rating could get better after problems have been corrected.

"They need a fire station, yes," he said. "But they need to clean up where they are at first."

City Councilman John Heath said city council members have taken $60,000 allocated for the new fire hall and put it in the fire department budget for new equipment or other necessary expenditures.

"Now we've got to get to work on our fire department," he said.

Mayor Bob Vincent said Tuesday the city council would likely help Mr. Welch search for a new fire chief. The city manager hires and fires, but Mr. Vincent said he feels the council "needs to step in."

The process of hiring a new chief could begin in two to three weeks, he said.

Mr. Vincent said he was surprised when he read the report over the weekend.

"Our intentions were to lower the ISO rating," he said. "Lo and behold, we get something to say you're lucky it wasn't raised."

Copyright 2008 Chattanooga Publishing Company