(QUINCY) - The Quincy Fire Association has voted to end mutual aid responses into Butler Township, citing both a contract breakdown with Butler Township and serious firefighter safety concerns involving Tekonsha Fire Chief Daryl Cummins.
According to the Coldwater Daily Reporter, the Quincy board voted Thursday to have an attorney draft formal notice to Butler Township, the Tekonsha Fire Department and Branch County Central Dispatch that Quincy will no longer provide mutual aid in the township.
The decision follows Butler Township's move to contract with Tekonsha for primary fire coverage, rather than accept Quincy's proposed four-year agreement.
Quincy leaders say the split was driven by both the failed service negotiations and concerns over command conditions at emergency scenes.
Quincy Fire Chief Mike Sherman told the board there had been multiple incidents involving Tekonsha Chief Daryl Cummins that created what Sherman described as an "unsafe, hostile environment" when Cummins was in command.
Sherman said he would not continue placing Quincy firefighters in that environment.
The Coldwater Daily Reporter also cited Quincy firefighter and Butler Township resident Rick Filmore, who said he personally witnessed hostility and unprofessional behavior by Cummins at fire scenes and crash calls.
Neither Sherman nor Filmore publicly detailed the specific incidents, and Cummins had not publicly responded as of the latest reporting.
The loss of Quincy's mutual aid support now raises concerns about longer response times and reduced backup coverage on major fires and serious crashes in Butler Township.