Alfalfa Fire District faces renewed questions over accountability
KTVZ News Partners
ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Alfalfa Fire District is again facing questions about its future after years of missing financial reports.
According to media partner The Prineville Review, state and county officials warn the district could be dissolved if it doesn’t get its finances in order. The Oregon Secretary of State says the district failed to file reports for 2020–22 through 2020–24, continuing a long pattern of noncompliance under Chief Chad LaVallee.
County Counsel told LaVallee that dissolution could follow without immediate action.
LaVallee told The Prineville Review wildfire demands caused delays but said an accounting firm is now catching up.
Critics argue those same issues raise doubts as the district seeks to expand into Crook County’s Juniper Acres.
Chief LaVallee has been under scrutiny before. Back in January 2024, three volunteers for the fire district reached out to KTVZ after they said their concerns over training and other issues weren’t taken seriously enough by LaVallee and the Alfalfa Fire District’s Board.
They point to an incident that occurred in June 2023. They say Chief LaVallee used a 16-year-old as a victim in a live fire training, which is against regulations by the National Fire Protection Agency and violates OSHA guidelines.
Former volunteer Ellis Kurzman said: “After the horn was blown, I noticed that Carl, the cadet we had who was under 18 that was in the building, wasn’t there.”
According to The Prineville Review, they could not immediately confirm if LaVallee has kept the Board of Directors advised of these current issues relating to noncompliance.
This is a developing story. KTVZ will continue to follow leads and will report back with any updated information.