HARTSVILLE, SC (WMBF) – In Hartsville, news that the city has fired its fire chief has residents worried and searching for answers.

In a statement to WMBF News on Wednesday, the city confirmed that Fire Chief Jeff Burr, Deputy Chief Jason Bell and a third individual “were released today due to policy violations.”

Hartsville resident Connor Johnson said the news surprised him and others.

“It really shocked everyone that something like this came out of nowhere,” Johnson said.

A memo was sent to city staff from Hartsville City Manager Daniel Moore on Wednesday stating the following:

“We, the City of Hartsville, are responsible for all dollars spent as stewards of taxpayer money. We take the duties and responsibilities assigned to us extremely seriously. Please review the attached documents to familiarize yourself with our Purchasing Policy, Secondary Business Policy and Social Media policies. “The municipality will not allow any deviation from these.”

The city has not issued another statement since then, leaving residents wondering whether fire departments will be able to provide the same service and safety in the future.

Connie Ogburn, another resident, said community members felt like they were left in the dark.

“People think maybe there’s something hiding,” Ogburn said.

WMBF News Reporter Logan Schiciano tried to get answers to residents’ questions multiple times Thursday, but no city officials were willing to provide further details.

Hartsville Police Chief Byron Snellgrove will oversee the operations of both the Hartsville Police Department and the Hartsville Fire Department during the transition period, city officials said.

The city said it is “confident in Chief Snellgrove’s ability to maintain the safety and well-being of Hartsville residents as we work through this transition period.”

Neighborhood residents think that this situation is too much for one person to handle.

“I know the police department is really busy around here, so I don’t know if he can handle everything that’s going on in the community and the fire department,” Johnson said.

This change has caused some residents to doubt the department’s effectiveness going forward, while others still trust the people working at the department.

“If you ask anyone here, call times for fires around Hartsville and Darlington are astronomically low,” Jesse Fink said. “The people who volunteer and are on staff are excellent at what they do.”

Some citizens expressed their concerns on social media. change.org Petition for the reinstatement of three firefighters. As of this publication, the petition has 174 signatures.

Stay tuned to WMBF News for updates.

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