Manassas Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Wood has resigned and not as a happy man. He has been at his post for 2 years. According to News and Messenger:
However, by his own admission, Wood is resigning a disappointed man. He said the current fire and rescue department gave him a lot of liability and little authority. It’s also a system that he feels makes residents of Manassas less safe than they should be
“[Public safety] is an essential service and an essential service needs a strategic vision, a strategic plan,” Wood said. “Some two years into my appointment, we’ve not been able to develop a strategic plan. There are too many diverse and opposing views on what could be done, should be done and what may need to be done.”
Manassas City established a system that was a six-person public safety committee comprised of volunteer and career staff. Additionally, there was a 5 person appeals committee. City Councilman Andy Harrover helped create this Manassas Fire and Rescue set-up that was organized to prevent problems. Obviously it didn’t. Other officials weighed in on the subject in the N & M:
Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad president Mike Enright was a little more blunt, stating the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company “disrespected” Wood.
“I am surprised he lasted this long,” Enright said.
Manassas Mayor Harry J. “Hal” Parrish II said it was tough for all parties involved, including City Council. Set up in January, the system established a six-person public safety committee made up of volunteer and career staffers and a five-person appeals committee made up of Manassasresidents and run by city manager Lawrence Hughes. Councilman Marc T. Aveni chaired the public safety committee.
“I can’t help but think that a great system can come together when people decide they both need and want to work together cooperatively as a team, that is the key,” Parrish said.
Woods departure is seen by many as a real set back to City Fire and Rescue.
Assistant Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Rohs said he could’ve retired a few years ago but chose to stick around to see what Wood could do. Both Rohs and Enright praised Wood for his professionalism, open-door policy and his ability to obtain grants for the betterment of the department.
How do volunteers and paid staff work side by side? It never made sense to me how this works. Obviously someone or several someones didn’t like taking orders from the paid professionals. They probably thought they were volunteers and didn’t have to go by the same rules as those on a pay check. Yet, the volunteers help already stretched municipal budgets and provide a great service to the community. Regardless of what has transpired, Mike Woods seems to have the respect of most city folks.
Prince William County has certainly had its ups and downs with this issue also. Regardless, the next Chief needs to have a great deal more authority over all fire and rescue. The people of Manassas deserve no less. City of Manassas people also need to be willing to dump a few of their tax pennies into the public jar to ensure that they have the most up to date equipment. Word on the street is, they rely a little too much on other jurisdictions to make up their equipment deficiencies. Hopefully, city folks will help fill in the blanks here.
