Montana Chief In Hot Water Over Open Burning

Posted by: Curt Varone August 28, 2012 0

An assistant fire chief from a small town in Montana has been charged with negligent arson, official misconduct, and operating on a suspended license following a fire last April that damaged several vehicles, storage sheds, timbers, plywood, flooring, windows, and a hay barn.

Assistant Chief Kasey Doto of the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department was reportedly tending to a small outdoor scrap fire a relative’s house in Butte when it got out of control. When career firefighters from the Butte Silver Fire Department arrived a Centerville VFD truck was already at the scene.

Chief Doto’s driver’s license had previously been suspended for DUI citations and he was prohibited from driving the apparatus. According to KTVQ.com, Centerville VFD had gone so far as to set up a video camera to ease the public’s concern that Chief Doto was disobeying the DUI suspension. Ironically, the camera caught Chief Doto driving his own vehicle and another fire department vehicle.

Firefighters remained on the scene of the fire for eight hours controlling the blaze, overhauling and investigating. When asked how the Centerville fire truck got on scene, Chief Doto allegedly claimed it was at a nearby trucking facility for repairs. He was arrested last Thursday and released on his own recognizance, and is due back in court for arraignment on September 6, 2012.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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