Another Buncombe County fire department has been served federal documents

Asheville, NC — Multiple Buncombe County fire departments are part of an ongoing federal investigation.

When News 13 reached out to the Riceville Fire Department, the chief he told News 13 to contact the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The subpoenas are part of an ongoing federal investigation that may involve more than the two departments served. Federal investigators said they don't comment on ongoing investigations.

On March 13, Skyland Fire and Rescue's Board of Directors released a statement after federal investigators warned the department not to destroy or harm documents. Skyland declined to give exact details as to the content of the subpoenas or the spoliation letter it received.

You can find Skyland's full statement concerning the investigation here.

Prior money matters

Money management at the Skyland Fire Department was called into question over the last two years.

In July 2017, before former chief Dennis Presley retired, Skyland Fire borrowed $150,000 from the Riceville Fire Department.

“We had a payroll due at the end of the week, so we needed to do something quickly,” Skyland Fire Department Board treasurer Ned Fowler said in fall 2017 when News 13 questioned board members about the spending.

Fowler said the Skyland board, which handles the finances, knew nothing about the loan the chief asked for and never approved it. That loan, however, created outrage among Riceville residents who somehow learned about it.

“You're bringing us into disrepute. If there's any questions about mismanagement of money, that needs to be taken seriously and it needs to be public,” said one woman who addressed the Riceville board at its November 2017 meeting.

Buncombe County agreed to pay for audits of the two departments, although the findings of those reports haven't been made public.