Manassas fire and rescue chief quits

It just wasn’t working.

The first City of Manassas combined fire and rescue chief/emergency management coordinator is quitting.

Mike Wood sent the resignation letter to the city council Friday. The resignation is effective Jan. 1.

During much of his 25-month tenure, Wood was caught up in an effort to first combine the Manassas Fire and Rescue Department, the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company, and then to make the new organization work.

In his letter, Wood outlined the many accomplishments made but pointed to the existence of a “philosophical divide concerning fire and rescue services which continues to undermine improvements in configuration, accountability, revenue, and safety.

“Until this division is remedied or proactively managed, I fear that the combined fire and rescue system will continue to possess significant operational deficiencies and administrative inefficiencies that, in my professional view, pose detriment to our public and first responder safety,” Wood wrote.

Wood could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Negotiations to combine the three departments started in July 2009 and continued until January, when a hybrid organization was formed.

The volunteer fire company wanted more autonomy in establishing procedures, writing budgets, limiting public access to records that are not related to the use of public funds and controlling equipment and facilities.

When the final organization was adopted by the Manassas City Council in January, Wood said he was not completely satisfied with the hybrid organization that consisted of a public safety committee, a paid fire chief and an appeals committee.

At that time, Woods said he wanted an organization with a more unified command structure.

In his letter, Wood said his efforts over the last 25 months to implement a collaborative science-based, centrally organized system were not supported “and therefore, unsuccessful; change seems appropriate for the bettering of the fire and rescue services.”

Wood said he was thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as chief.

“I have gained multiple experiences that I will take with me upon my departure,” he wrote. “It is my hope that my contributions to the city will be viewed in retrospect to have been equally beneficial to this community.“

The Manassas City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the city hall council chambers on Center Street.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-530-3907. Senior reporter Keith Walker contributed to this story.