The town of Lake Lure, North Carolina, is backing its fire chief after he threatened to arrest a volunteer helicopter pilot during a rescue mission. The incident occurred after Hurricane Ian left a couple stranded on a mountainside. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Melton reportedly told veteran pilot Jordan Seidhom that his presence interfered with official rescue operations and could result in arrest if he attempted another rescue.
Seidhom, a private citizen and experienced pilot, had already rescued Susan Coffey but left her husband, Mike, and his son behind due to limited space on the aircraft. When he attempted to return for Mike and his son, Melton threatened him with arrest. Despite the warning, Seidhom proceeded with the rescue, sparking public outrage and calls for Melton’s firing. However, the town of Lake Lure has continued to support Melton, insisting he was following proper procedures.
Lake Lure Town Manager Olivia Stewman defended the fire chief in an interview with Queen City News. “They were doing what they were supposed to do at that time,” Stewman explained. She claimed that Seidhom had not coordinated his flight with the local rescue operations, creating potential safety hazards.
However, Seidhom argued that he had notified local authorities at the Rutherford Airport, who provided him with fuel for his mission. The airport was the only facility supporting volunteer rescue efforts at the time, although Stewman claimed this coordination was not communicated to the fire department.
Despite public criticism, Stewman reiterated that the fire department personnel were acting in the best interest of public safety. “Our team has been working around the clock to save lives,” she stated, adding that they had no regrets about their actions during the incident.
