Wrightsville Beach Fire Chief placed on admin leave amidst allegations of creating a toxic workplace

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Wrightsville Beach Fire Chief Josh Haraway is on administrative leave, pending an investigation by a third party.

A petition claiming Haraway had created a toxic work environment went live last month and received more than 556 signatures.

The petition was created by full-time staff and members of the Wrightsville Beach’s Fire Department and Ocean Rescue.

According to the petition, Haraway made sexist and degrading comments to female staff members which resulted in 6 of 7 female firefighters having left the department since Haraway arrived. The petition also said that Haraway made incorrect and dangerous decisions regarding the use of the department’s apparatus and a lack of support for the department’s volunteer program.

Haraway took over as the town’s fire chief back in 2022.

WWAY has reached out to members of the town’s Board of Aldermen and has been told that it is a personnel matter, which they can not talk about until the investigation is completed.