Chief NC fire marshal, 2 others reinstated after being fired in power struggle

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reinstated a trio of high-ranking state officials Tuesday after firing them two weeks ago as part of a power struggle with the General Assembly.

Chief State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mike Williams and Brent Heath, the Department of Insurance’s legislative liaison, are back in their jobs as if nothing happened, Causey said.

A newly passed state law, which the legislature passed in part to protect these employees from Causey, required the reinstatements.

“While I don’t agree with it, I don’t have any choice but to comply, Causey said. “And we’re going to make the best of it.”

For more than 80 years the state’s elected insurance commissioner has also been the state fire marshal, though a separate employee — currently Taylor — handled day-to-day operations under the commissioner’s supervision.

That flow chart is changing with the passage this year of a new state budget, which strips Causey of the fire marshal title and creates an independent fire marshal office starting Jan. 1.

Causey, who like the General Assembly’s majority is a Republican, publicly opposed the change. Sen Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, said Causey threatened firings in response, so lawmakers passed Senate Bill 409. That bill essentially froze the fire marshal’s office at the Department of Insurance in place until the new office can be established.

Causey denied threatening the firings, though he said he suggested that Heath appeal to Perry on the matter by telling the senator “your job could be at stake.”

Senate Bill 409 included specific protections for the employees Causey later fired, saying anyone in office as of Oct. 1 would continue to be employed. That bill was passed on Oct. 25. Causey fired the three employees on Oct. 31, before Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill into law. Once Cooper did, on Nov. 9, the reinstatements were a matter of law.

Causey told other employees at the Office of State Fire Marshal about the reinstatements in a letter dated Tuesday.

“The General Assembly has required me to reinstate Brian Taylor and two of his colleagues,” the letter states. “I am performing my constitutional duties as a statewide elected official of our great state.”

Causey told WRAL News the reinstatements were backdated, so it’s as if Taylor, Williams and Heath were never fired.

Taylor said he starts back on the job tomorrow, that he appreciates the General Assembly placing confidence in him and that he will continue to collaborate with Causey and the rest of the Department of Insurance.

"I look forward to getting back to serving the citizens of North Carolina," he said.

Attempts to reach Williams and Heath for comment were not immediately successful.