Western Iowa fire chief resigns after volunteers suspended

SHELBY, Iowa (AP) - The fire chief in western Iowa's Shelby has resigned following the dismissal of the town's volunteer firefighters.

Fire Chief Eric Wendt stepped down Wednesday just days after the City Council's suspension of all firefighters at the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. The city of about 640 is now relying on service in Minden and Avoca for emergency response.

Wendt tells the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil (http://bit.ly/1tAvheN ) he resigned for personal reasons, not because of the firings. He says since he was the only one serving the department, he didn't want to be held liable should anything go wrong.

The council decided Monday that the department's fundraising proceeds should be under council control, something the volunteers didn't want.

Wendt says the council now oversees the department and is accepting volunteer applications.

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Information from: The Daily Nonpareil, http://www.nonpareilonline.com