Keith Yamane will return to Union Gap, Wash., early next month to become the next fire chief. Yamane, who begins Dec. 3, was selected over two other candidates because of his superior leadership and communication skills, plus experience working for fire departments composed of paid and volunteer staff, Mayor Aubrey Reeves told the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Union Gap has nine paid and 25 volunteer firefighters. Yamane will replace Tom Kehm, who left after five years as chief to become the interim public safety director in Toppenish.

Yamane has 20 years of fire service experience and is currently chief at Vashon-Maury Island. He also was fire chief for Walla Walla County Protection District 5 and the city of Toppenish, the paper reports.

The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that 23-year-old Borough, Pa., Fire Chief Christopher DeNaples joined the International Association of Fire Fighters. The council hired him to be a nonunion manager, but DeNaples and union officials said his membership was required in order for him to respond to emergency calls. Five of the town's 17 firefighters are out on disability and DeNaples is needed on scenes, a union official told the paper.

"It’s in the (union contract) that the chief is supposed to be in the union," DeNaples told the paper. "It’s the same as everybody else. Now I’m able to function like I should be able to."

But council members told the paper that they want a separation between management and union, as the town has with its police chief and police department. The council has asked the union to alter the bargaining agreement to allow DeNaples to respond to fires and other emergencies without being a member. Talks between the two sides have been unsuccessful.