Former Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan Swarey says he resigned after what he called a heated meeting Monday morning between Whiteville city and fire officials. The decision prompted more than a dozen volunteer firefighters to follow in his footsteps. “I finally got to the point [Monday] and this weekend that, you know, I’m here to fight fires, here to do EMS work,” Swarey said. “I’m not here for drama and politics. I don’t have to put up with this.”
Swarey said he had enough with the current administration. “The last nine months have been so drama filled that I just, I cannot justify going on the way it is right now, and so many of my guys have my back.”