Board Fights Release Of Fire Chief Investigation

A volunteer firefighter is asking a court to release an investigation into the former Frenchtown fire chief whom she says harassed and threatened her.

John Bibler resigned as chief on Feb. 16, a day after a Missoula private investigator presented the fire district's board with the results of his probe.

The board hired the investigator to look into the allegations made by the volunteer against Bibler.

The woman says Bibler threatened her, sexually harassed her and made inappropriate sexual advances.

In February, district board chairman Ray Winn said privacy interests outweighed the public's right to know.

The woman's attorney, Bryan Spoon, says that decision is a violation of state law.

Spoon filed a lawsuit Friday asking a judge to order the district to produce a redacted version of the report.

Associated Press