The village of Bonanza, a southern Oregon community of just over 400, is depending on fire protection from neighboring communities after the July 6 resignation of the Bonanza Fire Department’s chief and the rest of the department.

Fire Chief Lana Lee claims that the district board has cut her $1,000/month salary by 10%, made false accusations against her, and even limited her access to department mail. She turned in her resignation saying that after five years as chief, she was tired of constantly battling with the department’s board of directors. Her resignation was followed by the resignation of the department’s nine volunteer firefighters. The department's training officer, Chris Harder, a deputy fire marshal in nearby Klamath Falls, also tendered his resignation.

Lee joined the Bonanza department in 1990 and took over the position of chief from her grandfather upon his retirement in 2000. It is believed that Lee may have been the only female fire chief in Oregon.

Fire protection for the 123 square miles of the rural fire district in which Bonanza lies is being provided neighboring fire districts until the matter can be resolved.