Rapid City Journal
SPEARFISH, S.D. — In the wake of the mass resignation of its entire volunteer fire department, effective Jan. 31, 2016, Spearfish city officials are grappling with how they will provide fire protection services in the future.
Citing exhaustion from a lack of volunteers willing to provide future leadership, and frustration from ongoing battles with the city over adequate funding, the Spearfish Volunteer Fire Department announced Tuesday that it will disband in January after 134 years of service to the community.
In an open letter to Spearfish residents, Fire Chief Taylor Custis and President Janette Hettick said the department would dissolve because it “cannot find a leader who is willing to be chief.” While the department had a number of interested firefighters at the beginning of the year, ensuing legal and political battles had led them to decline the position of chief, the letter stated. In addition, the department lacked qualified individuals interested in assuming other leadership roles such as assistant chief, president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
Full story: Spearfish grappling with need for new fire department