TUPPER LAKE – Fire Chief Carl Steffen says a disgruntled village trustee is to blame for allegations that one of his department’s members vandalized a fire truck.

“Everyone, including Ron LaScala, has a right to their own opinion, but the problem in this case is he is accusing the department members of a criminal act, and he has no proof. He is treating the department volunteers like criminals,” Steffen said Friday.

LaScala said the fire chief told the village board in a closed-door session Sept. 21 that a member had intentionally deflated all the tires on the ladder truck, a statement Steffen refutes.

“I had no proof of that. Why would I say it?” Steffen asked. He did not speak out sooner against the allegations because the back-and-forth took place in an executive session. Now that it is public, he decided to speak out, he said.

He and other department members were outside the villages offices Friday, waiting to speak on the allegations at a scheduled Board of Trustees meeting, but too few board members showed up. Without a quorum, the meeting was canceled.

After the executive session, LaScala contacted the Enterprise to say vandalism occurred and the fire department was trying to cover it up. The trustee said he had first heard of it through a fire department member he did not name. During that meeting, the board and Steffen agreed to install security cameras inside the fire headquarters. LaScala said he also called to ban members from entering the station, unless for official business, until the cameras are installed, but the rest of board turned that down.

Steffen on Friday outlined what he said actually occurred. During an annual equipment maintenance check Sept. 13, inspectors noted the air pressure was low in the ladder truck. On the following Sunday, firefighter Nick Rolley attempted to inflate the tires, but the valve stems were faulty and air bled out.

“I can’t even recall when the stems were replaced,” Steffen said.

During the executive session, Steffen said LaScala barraged him with vulgarities.

“He went on a tangent of vulgar language and threatened us, and claimed we operate under a great wall of secrecy,” Steffen said.

In response, Steffen said he notified village Clerk Mary Casagrain and the fire commissioner about the deflated tires.

LaScala still maintains the chief told him and the board it was vandalism.

“Why would they call an executive session if it was nothing?” he asked. He and fellow trustee Tom Snyder both said Trustee David “Haji” Maroun told the board the incident was under investigation.

“But we found out later that was not true,” LaScala said.

LaScala said he supports the fire department but there are a few bad apples. He said much of the disagreement stems from the department wanting to purchase a used fire truck now, while the board favors waiting to purchase a new one, he said.

“I am not against the department, but I am charged with looking after taxpayer dollars,” he said.

LaScala said he will revisit the issue at the October village board meeting.

Village police Chief Eric Proulx said he is investigating the incident.