Fire-Rescue News- West Cape May seeks review of fire company after letter from Cape May fire chief

By RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer | Posted: Friday, April 16, 2010 | 1 comment

WEST CAPE MAY - The borough is asking the state to review operations at the local volunteer fire company after a neighboring fire chief raised safety concerns.

Borough Commissioner Ramsey Geyer said the review was spawned by an April 6 letter he received from....Continue Reading

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Cape May Fire Chief Jerry Inderwies Jr. saying Cape May would no longer call the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company for assistance. The letter questioned whether the company has adequate staffing and training, as well as the leadership of fire Chief Chuck McPherson.

"One of the most important aspects of providing fire protection and public safety is a well-trained and competent department. Chief McPherson has refused to adequately train his personnel to levels accepted by neighboring fire departments," Inderwies wrote.

McPherson, in an April 9 letter to Inderwies, reminded him he had "worked well" and in a "very professional manner" with four previous fire chiefs in Cape May. McPherson has been a firefighter for almost 35 years and a chief for more than 17. Inderwies has been a firefighter for 23 years and a chief for six years.

"I would like to know who you think you are or what authority you have to evaluate me as to how I carry out my leadership skills as a fire chief. I remind you again that I have many more years of experience than you in running a fire company and much more experience than you in running actual fire ground operations," McPherson wrote.

Geyer, who oversees the local company, has invited the state Bureau of Fire Safety and Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health, or PEOSH, to perform a review and audit of the company. He said such a review would make sure the firefighters are equipped and trained properly.

"It was spawned by the letter that in my opinion raised a great deal of community concern. The fire company is open to do it. It's not in any way giving credence to or admitting to any issues in that letter," Geyer said.

Geyer assured residents there are no public safety concerns. He said all mutual aid agreements, in which fire companies agree to help each other out, are still in place.

"This is not an issue of public safety or pending danger. Our belief is the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company is qualified and certified," Geyer said.

Reached on Friday, Inderwies said Cape May City Manager Bruce MacLeod instructed him not to comment.

McPherson said he welcomes the review but is not happy about the way it came about. He said as recently as several weeks ago, Cape May asked his company to have its ladder truck ready to respond to the city because Cape May's ladder truck was out of service. But then last week, McPherson said, Cape May called the Town Bank Volunteer Fire Company in Lower Township to a fire instead of West Cape May.

"He had a fire on New Jersey Avenue and called Town Bank for mutual aid. Town Bank is 5.6 miles away. It took them 22 minutes to arrive. We're 0.3 miles away," McPherson said.

McPherson said he worries that Cape May, which has paid firefighters, is trying to expand its coverage area to other municipalities south of the Cape May Canal.

"I'd be willing to bet on it now. There has to be an ulterior motive," McPherson said.

Geyer said he has talked with Inderwies for more than a year about the issues and believes it is just a difference of opinion on firefighting.

"(Inderwies) has a very narrow view of what's acceptable, or not, and he imposes it on other companies around him. I'm only concerned about the state's view," Geyer said.

The letter from Inderwies said he has offered training and assistance to West Cape May but that it has not been accepted by McPherson. He said McPherson has ignored "policies and procedures" agreed upon at meetings of local fire chiefs.

McPherson in his letter said he recently sent three firefighters to a national safety seminar in New York City. He said there were three drills recently in which West Cape May firefighters trained with Cape May firefighters. He alleged Cape May violates the law by allowing its paid firefighters to also serve as volunteer firefighters. Cape May has both paid and volunteer firefighters.

McPherson said problems may date several years to an all-call system set up to bring responses from all four fire companies and departments south of the canal. McPherson said all-call works in rural areas but not congested cities.

"I got out of it because it didn't work. It's too congested on the island," he said.

Contact Richard Degener:   609-463-6711   RDegener@pressofac.com