By Gretyl Macalaster
The Union Leader Correspondent
CANDIA, N.H. — “Evidence suggests that the public is placed in danger by the lack of leadership of the Candia Volunteer Fire Department and the conduct of the department,” Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams wrote after his office investigated the volunteer fire department.
Though no criminal charges resulted, the list of concerns include:
• The failure of Fire Chief Rudy Cartier to immediately notify the state fire marshal about the suspicious nature of a fire involving the girlfriend of a Candia firefighter.
• The “immaturity” of some Candia firefighters.
• A lack of trust by fire chiefs from surrounding towns in Cartier’s command.
Fire chiefs from Auburn, Deerfield and Raymond were interviewed by the state fire marshal.
“The surrounding fire chiefs do not trust the command of Chief Cartier. When their firefighters assist Candia, the chiefs either insist on being there, or won’t let their firefighters partner with Candia firefighters. One of the chiefs has instructed his firefighters to ignore Chief Cartier and follow their own department protocols,” the report states.
Reams encouraged Candia selectmen to take a “long, hard look” at the information as “it should raise concerns for any residents of Candia, Rockingham County, or the state of New Hampshire.”
Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelly said the board would take up the issue, but he could not comment because it is a personnel matter.
Cartier is out of town and could not be reached for comment.
The report gave specific examples of the behavior of some Candia firefighters.
In August 2008, firefighter Matt Richter was stopped by a Candia police officer driving 60 mph in a posted 35 mph zone in front of the Moore School. Richter told the officer that firefighter Kyle Ball had told him to do it; it was later determined that the two had “planned” the incident and that Ball had videotaped it.
That same month, police officer Kevin Cashman tried to stop Fire Capt. James Wilson for speeding on an off-road vehicle, but was unable to catch up with him. The report said Wilson hid the OHRV from the officer and denied the event, but eventually admitted his part.
In December, Officer Rick Langlois had to speak with Richter about doing doughnuts in the Moore School parking lot.
And in May, permission was granted to the department to perform controlled burns in the Brown Road Pit, but firefighters ignored what they were told and burned on property that isn’t owned by the town.
Another firefighter used the pit to go four-wheeling in his truck, got stuck and had to be towed.
The firefighters involved tried to cover up what happened, but police were told about it by others who had been on scene, according to the report.
Copyright 2009 Union Leader Corp.
All Rights Reserved