Observer & Eccentric: Salem Township fire Chief Mark Hamilton fired

Hamilton, who was with the department for 34 years, 20 as chief, was fired immediately but will retain pay until Feb. 29, the report said.

Multiple people spoke on Hamilton's behalf, but officials said his “leadership, oversight and management of the fire department has not been effective." Officials cited a study released in December that put fire response times in the township at an average of 14 minutes, the newspaper reported.

Read the full report.