MAROA - Citizens voiced their concerns at a special meeting of the Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District on Monday in the wake of nine firefighters resigning from the department.

The firefighters, including the assistant fire chief, resigned Sept. 9 at the end of a meeting of the fire department's board of trustees after urging the board to remove Larry Peasley as fire chief and receiving no answer. Those who spoke with the Herald & Review cited problems with Peasley and concern over the quality of training.

The resignations left the department without any coverage for its daytime shift.

The department's board of trustees invited questions and input from the public at the meeting, and all present voiced concern with the situation.

Board President Tom Rogers said he could not say how many firefighters the department has during its daytime shift.

"There aren't particular designations for daytime or for nighttime," Rogers said.

April Agee, a relative of one of the firefighters who resigned, said it is taking too long for the department to resolve the situation.

"My concern is that it's going to take something drastic before we see anything done," Agee said. "I would hate to see a major accident have to happen before we see a resolution to this problem; and no, I do not feel safe."

Cindy Sinkosky said she was disturbed to hear that so many firefighters had quit at the same time.

"It made me think that there must be something disturbing for nine people to leave the fire department," Sinkosky said. "I don't feel comfortable knowing that maybe we're not equipped to handle a daytime emergency."

Amy Jump commented on the loss of experienced firefighters.

"A lot of them who quit have experience," Jump said. "The ones that are here now have six months to a year."

Several in attendance blamed Peasley for the resignations and the trouble with replenishing the department's ranks. Lynn Zombro, wife of

one of the firefighters who resigned, said citizens have started circulating petitions that show support for the nine firefighters.

Rogers said one of the reasons for the gathering was to aid in resolving the situation.

"I'm not ready to make that decision yet without a plan to go forward," Rogers said.

Peasley was not in attendance at the meeting and could not be reached for comment.

klowe@herald-review.com|421-7985