A power struggle has erupted in an Oregon coastal fire district after Seal Rock Fire District Chief Will Ewing accused board member Mike Burt of corruption in a leaked email. Ewing claimed that Burt was undermining his leadership and conspiring with another fire district to sabotage recruitment efforts for volunteers. The controversy has led to concerns about a toxic environment at the rural fire district and has prompted a request for the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to investigate.
The contentious history between the two fire districts dates back to 2020 when they began sharing resources. Ewing, who was hired in 2022, defended his initiatives to expand the volunteer program and accused Burt of working against Seal Rock’s interests. The situation escalated after a heated board meeting where Ewing and another board member threatened to initiate a recall campaign against Burt.
Despite Burt calling the accusations meritless and offering to move forward, the Central Coast board issued a public statement condemning Ewing’s email and calling for immediate action to address the harm caused. The state ethics commission has been asked to investigate the ongoing situation.
Although Ewing claims that his conflict with Burt has been resolved, the controversy continues to unfold. The Central Coast Fire District board emphasized that there is no place in the fire service for hate, cruelty, vengeance, and sabotage, and urged for a resolution to the ongoing tensions.
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