DANTE, Va. (WJHL) - A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the Dante Volunteer Fire Department against Russell County, Va., Administrator Lonzo Lester and the Russell County Board of Supervisors.

Daniel Meade filed the lawsuit on behalf of the fire department.

"The county administrator had contacted the chief, Ethan Taylor, saying that there was a lack of training, there wasn't 20 members in the department and that that was a concern for the county," Meade said.

The lawsuit claims that at 4:19 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2024, members were informed by Lester that he had ordered the closure of the department, and they were barred from accessing the station at 5:00 p.m. the same day, leaving all the equipment inside.

Tim Anderson is the attorney representing the fire department.

"We're asking the c

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