LANCASTER, Ohio — The fire chief of an Ohio town is being questioned for his alleged use of a town fire truck to fix a private building he owned.
Bremen Fire Chief Joseph L. Westenbarger is being accused of dispatching a fire truck to his own building so workers could fix a hole in the roof, according to 10TV.
A resident took pictures of the aerial ladder being used and workers using the truck to hoist themselves to the roof.
The Columbus Division of Fire has a strict policy against personal use of fire equipment, but according to Chief Westenbarger, there is no such rule in Bremen.
“The trustees said it was OK for volunteers, people on the fire department to borrow equipment for personal use,” he said.
Chief Westenbarger also added that fire equipment had also been used to bring water to farmers during a period of heavy storms, according to the report.
The concerned resident said it was a “flat misuse of taxpayer money” and a safety hazard, because the people operating the truck were not trained firefighters.
A formal complaint has been filed against Chief Westernbarger and the Ohio Ethics Commission will consider whether further action needs to be taken.