She also alleges that the Marmet firefighters ripped refrigerator and freezer doors off hinges, kicked a hole in a bathroom door, stole pictures off walls and broke a bunk bed ladder. Marmet fire chief Jerry McGee didn't attend the conference. He says any damages his men might have caused are exaggerated. Rock Ridge Resort is not on Pipestem grounds, though a pub where the conference attendees congregate is. Chesapeake Fire Chief Steve Johnson says he doesn't let his firefighters attend the conference.
Some departments pay for their personnel to attend.
I just don't even let my guys go to it. I think they're better than that. I don't think we need to be in. Rick Rice is head of Regional Education Service Agency I, based in Beckley. Among other duties, RESAs across the state oversee educational programs such as firefighter training.