Southeast Iowa’s fire chief was disciplined for responding to the scene of a crash hours after consuming beer

The city of Centerville’s fire chief is facing disciplinary action after he admitted to drinking alcohol before responding to a water rescue last week. According to a release from the city, Fire Chief Vern Milburn was among the crew members who responded to a water rescue call on May 3. A complaint was made that night that Milburn may have been under the influence of alcohol. The city said the complaint was taken seriously and was immediately handled by the Centerville Police Department, who administered a breathalyzer test on-site. Milburn’s BAC was 0.026, well below the 0.08 limit for legal driving in Iowa. The city of Centerville said Milburn was forthcoming and admitted to drinking a few beers after he got off work at 8 p.m. that night. He said he was accommodating. He was lying in bed when the 911 call came in several hours later and, despite knowing about the department’s zero-tolerance policy, felt obligated to be on scene and felt uncomfortable when he woke up impaired. After an internal investigation, Milburn agreed to “significant disciplinary action and other requirements,” but the city did not provide details. Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI