UPDATE: I was never certified and it’s the city’s fault, ousted chief says

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Three Sea Isle City fire officials have stepped down in the wake of a state-led investigation which found the trio unqualified to hold their leadership positions, according to a state spokesperson.

Fire Chief Frank Edwardi Sr., and assistant chiefs Mike Ryan and Mike Tighe, came under scrutiny of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs because of an anonymous complaint and “a number of large fires” in recent months on the island, said DCA spokeswoman Tammori Petty.

The DCA’s Fire Safety Division found the three men “lacked the proper certifications for incident command,” Petty said in an email exchange with NJ Advance Media.

Edwardi, Ryan and Tighe have been replaced by individuals who are properly certified, according to Petty. Each one can continue to respond to calls and operate fire equipment if they are qualified to do so, she said.

Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and Police Chief Thomas McQuillen, who also oversees the fire department, did not immediately return requests for comment on Monday.

The resignations come on the heels of four publicized fires in the city over the last year, with each causing notable destruction under different circumstances.

One structure fire destroyed four residential units on Easter Sunday, just five months after a six-home fire killed an 89-year-old woman and injured two others. One family also lost its vacation home during a vehicle-turned-house fire over Memorial Day weekend.

The latest — a June 16 structure fire that left two people with minor injuries — increased questions of whether the volunteer department should become a full-time operation. It also escalated residents’ concerns over incident response times.

Public Information Officer Katherine Custer previously told NJ Advance Media the response time to the June fire was three to five minutes, but admitted some fires have taken longer for crews to get to when they’re out on other calls.

Sea Isle sometimes receives assistance from departments in Ocean City, Avalon and Strathmere, among others, Custer added.

She said the city is very confident, however, in its volunteer department’s capabilities.

“They are a devoted group of volunteers and care deeply about the public safety they do,” Custer said.

Kevin Brennan — a longtime resident whose home was damaged by the Memorial Day weekend fire — has been vocal with his belief that the city needs to explore other options.

During a May 28 city council meeting, Brennan requested a study be conducted to determine whether the city could afford a paid fire crew — even if just a small one — that could be on call around the clock.

Sea Isle City allotted nearly $20,000 for fire department salaries and wages in 2019, according to budget documents. About $97,000 was set aside for additional fire-related expenses, the documents said.

In contrast, the neighboring Avalon Volunteer Fire Department was allotted more than $200,000 for fire expenses this year.

Jenna Wise may be reached at jwise@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennaRWise. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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