08/01/2026
This is a Fire Chief. He told them the truth. They may not have liked it, but it is the truth. All to often we get gutless officers who are more worried about their promotions and career than honesty.
Once the big push to 'run it like a business' took hold and these Paper Tiger Leaders started getting hired/promoted this has got significantly worse. We tried to warn others and we got attacked. These Paper Tiger Leaders have increased (hence the push for lateral moves), decreased to scary levels, caused workplace to increase and made no decreases in . Time to let them all know this .
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LA3PzFFnL/
In Livingston, MT, Fire Chief Josh Chabalowski has filed a lawsuit seeking to return to work after being placed on administrative leave shortly after publicly expressing concerns about the department’s future needs. Chabalowski had warned that the growing community would require additional staffing, a second fire station, new apparatus, and long term planning. While supporters believe he was sidelined for speaking out, city officials deny that claim, citing increased funding and an ongoing independent investigation. We often talk about the fire service leaders who fail to stand up for the good of their people or their organization. But when some leaders do advocate for what they believe their department needs, they can find themselves facing significant pushback or retaliation. Regardless of how this case ultimately unfolds, it has sparked an important conversation about the role of a fire chief in advocating for the future of their department.
