Max Ming out as fire chief for Russian River, Forestville districts

Fire services veteran Max Ming is out as chief of the Forestville and Russian River fire districts, ending a sometimes tumultuous six-year run as head of the two fire agencies in western Sonoma County.

Ming, a longtime Forestville firefighter, earlier this month was presented with a letter of termination at a Forestville fire board meeting, then given a chance to appeal and subsequently resigned ahead of being fired, according to Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman, who also is operations chief for Russian River fire.

“He has been terminated from the fire district. This was not unexpected. All I can tell you is it was an incompatibility of management style,” between Ming and the Forestville board, said Andy Duckhorn, president of Forestville fire district’s board of directors. He declined to provide further details, saying the matter was a personnel issue.

Ming, 49, who has worked in fire protection for 34 years, wrote in a text Tuesday that he resigned from Forestville fire on Dec. 7th under amicable circumstances. He declined further comment.

While chief of both agencies, he was an employee of Forestville and contracted 50 percent of his time as Russian River’s chief. The two fire districts split his $165,000 salary and benefits package. His resignation from Forestville ended his tenure at both agencies.

Ming was fired by Russian River’s board in 2013 over complaints involving leadership and management issues, according to the fire district’s attorney at the time. But he was rehired within months following a loud public outcry from community residents supporting Ming’s reinstatement. Angry residents also launched a recall effort, which cost two Russian River board members their seats.

At that time the Forestville fire board supported Ming.

“You don’t hear a single thing this time,” Baxman said.

The loss of a chief for the two agencies comes amid a wider shake-up in local fire services. County supervisors have been pushing the county’s more than three dozen fire chiefs to make changes, including consolidations, as many agencies suffer financially and from a lack of volunteers. Baxman, a longtime advocate of consolidation, said this could be a chance to push discussions about departments working more closely together in the Russian River region.

Russian River, centered in Guerneville, has 12 paid firefighters and paramedics. It’s currently being run by its three captains, aided by Baxman. Board members will evaluate its needs regarding a chief, Baxman said.

Duckhorn said Forestville is not looking for change except to add more firefighters to the current short staff of five, make administration adjustments and figure out plans for a part-time chief.

“In my opinion I think they’ve been getting good service, but there is room for improvement. Staff always has been totally committed to the community,” Duckhorn said.

Assistant Chief Dave Franceschi, a 42-year veteran with the Forestville department, now is interim fire chief.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.