Embattled fire chief fired

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — John House is out. House had been the Oak Island Fire Chief since 2005. He says town manager Jerry Walters offered him the opportunity to resign, but House refused. Walters couldn’t comment on the firing because it’s a personnel matter.

In 2008, house blew a point-one-four during a highway patrol checkpoint – that’s almost twice the legal limit. He was found guilty of DWI, but Brunswick County prosecutors bungled the appeal forcing a judge to throw out the case. The DA’s office is appealing that dismissal.

House was fired as the town investigates claims of sexual harassment against the fire department by a former female employee. Walters would not say whether that had anything to do with the firing.