VFD shuts down due to equipment concerns and "lack of fire personnel"

A McDowell County volunteer fire department voluntarily shut down earlier this month after concerns were raised over defective and out-of-date equipment and staffing issues.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office reports finding these problems at the Northfork Volunteer Fire Department after a complaint sparked an investigation by the agency.

People in Northfork will be temporarily covered by the Keystone, Anawalt, Bramwell, Mataoka and Kimball volunteer fire departments, and the Fire Marshal’s Office says fire service will not be interrupted.

The Northfork VFD will stay closed while it undergoes what the Fire Marshal’s Office calls “restructuring” while fixing the citations.