N.L. sending mediator to deal with heat between Victoria town council and volunteer fire department

Newfoundland and Labrador is stepping in to lower the heat between Victoria's town council and its volunteer fire department.

On Tuesday, fire Chief Justin Parsons, along with 20 of the department's 24 firefighters, resigned in front of a large crowd of concerned residents who shouted their frustrations at Mayor Barry Dooley.

It was a situation that bubbled over from two opposing arguments: the town accusing Parsons of breaking and entering on a heritage property in the community shortly after a large wildfire in nearby Adam's Cove, and Parson's insisting his department had a key to the property and the team was looking for a portable water pump thought to be on an out of commission fire truck. 

Municipal Affairs Minister Paul Pike told CBC News he's travelling to the Conception Bay North community on Friday, alongside his assistant deputy minister and another staff person, to act like a mediator. 

"Both these individuals are very committed to the town of Victoria and we need to find a solution as soon as possible," Pike said, adding that he is hopeful a resolution will be reached.

"We want to support them in their decision making. We want to support the community. Hopefully we can come to some resolution tomorrow and get everybody back to doing the jobs that they really love doing."

Lifeblood of rural N.L.

Mediation from the province is necessary to resolve the conflict between Parsons and Dooley, according to Mike Tiller, the mayor and deputy fire chief of New Wes Valley. 

Tiller said small municipalities don't have human resource departments — so what starts as a small disagreement or personality clash can erupt quickly with no interference. 

"This is not going to be settled over a cup of tea and a conversation. This is going to take some time," he said. 

While neighbouring communities like Salmon Cove are currently mandated to respond to any emergency calls in Victoria, Tiller said volunteer fire departments are the lifeblood of towns in rural Newfoundland.

"Whenever there is an emergency of any kind, supposing it's a downed power line, or if it's a wild animal in the town or your fires — a lot of times it's medical calls — we are the first call that is made," he said. 

Parsons and Pike are hopeful the fire department will resolve matters with the town.

"There will be a Victoria Fire Department again. We will be back on [the] rigs. We want to be back on in rigs, but the reality is we need to go back with some kind of support," Parsons said.

"We have nobody to protect us. This is the issue. It's been ongoing for years. It's really, really sad, it had to come to this."

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.