FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Information:
Mike Vaughn
309-360-7230

After lengthy deliberation and consideration, it is with deep regret and a heavy heart that I am
announcing that I will be stepping down as the Fire Chief of the Washington Volunteer Fire
Department and Rescue Squad, Inc., effective November 1, 2014.

As you all may imagine, the past few months have been a roller coaster ride of emotions for my
family, members of the department, members of the community and myself. At the end of
July, based on comments made by the Board members at the time, I truly believed that we
would be able to work out an agreement. In fact, during the September Board meeting, I asked
each Board member individually if they supported me remaining as the Fire Chief. At that open
meeting, three of the four Board members stated they did support me. The fourth had no
comment.

However, based upon the significant takeaways and language changes (with no basis) offered
by the Board in their only counter proposal and subsequent actions taken by the Board it is
obvious that it is not and never was the intent of the Board to reach a fair agreement. Public
comments made by at least one of the current Board members regarding the status of the Fire
Chief and the fact that the City was asked not to fund the position in their contract, would also
lead one to believe that the Board had no real intention of reaching a fair agreement.

The Washington Fire Department has accomplished a lot over the past 6 years and will continue
to provide quality service to its customers. The Department is facing the same issues that the
majority of volunteer fire departments around the nation are facing. Volunteerism is a
dwindling asset and fire departments across the country must recognize that and continue to
try to find ways to face that issue and others. Political or personal agendas and vendettas have
no part in public safety and should not be used to create larger problems for those leading
those organizations.

I must, from the bottom of my heart, publicly thank my family, members of the Department,
the large number of community members, firefighters from across central Illinois, and my
fellow firefighters from across the nation for all of the support they have given and continue to
show during this time. I will never truly ever be able to pay them back.

It has been my honor and privilege to have served in my position and to have served my
community for the past 6 years.