UPDATE: Spavinaw Mayor Roy McBride issued the following statement on the closing of the fire department:
"The purpose of the town council is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens. It was necessary to tempoarily lock the entrance to the fire department. The fire department was lock on Monday. On Thursday at 6 p.m., a special meeting will be held to approve a new fire chief, as the former fire chief verbally resigned, which placed our fire department in jeopardy of not having the necessary leadership to operate the fire department. Please be assured the council is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of our citizens."
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Original story:
SPAVINAW, Okla. -- Spavinaw citizens voice their frustrations as the town approaches a full week of not having a fire department.
"Next thing I heard was a thump, a thump in the floor and it scared me to death," said Olivette Wagner, who lives in Spavinaw.
Six years ago, Olivette's husband suffered a heart attack. The first to rush to the scene and help were volunteer firefighters in Spavinaw.
"Without him I don’t know what I would do and that's why I’m very grateful for the fire department," said Wagner.
That's why Olivette attended a community led meeting outside the fire department, which has been locked since Thursday.
"They all need to work together and it’s not about who’s in charge and who’s not in charge anymore, it’s what are we standing for?" said Wagner.
Officials say there was a meeting scheduled Monday to vote in a new fire chief, but was canceled because not all city councilors could attend.
"As of Thursday hopefully we’ll have a fire chief and we’ll have our fire department back open," said Mysteri David, a Spavinaw resident.
The last fire chief resigned, and days later the fire department temporarily closed after Mayor Roy McBride expressed concerns about their finances.
"I’m more concerned with the fact that we have a board that’s acting illegally and they’re trying to govern and telling others how to behave and they can’t even do their own job," David.
Salina, Strang, and Langley are using their manpower to cover Spavinaw while their doors are locked.
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