Grays Harbor Fire District 5 Chief Dan Prater was placed on administrative leave recently.

Fire District 5 Commission Chairman Jim Crisp said in an email that Prater “was placed on administrative leave on April 17, while the fire district conducts a financial investigation” by the state Auditor’s Office.

Battalion Chief Adam Fulbright is acting chief during the review, a release from the fire district says.

The Fire District 5 Board of Commissioners met Monday evening to discuss advice from legal counsel on how best to proceed. Both Crisp and Fulbright did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.

Late Tuesday night, both Crisp and Fulbright emailed a news release that stated, “During the internal investigation it was found that Chief Prater used public funds for personal use and acceptance of Vacation Leave pay beyond the amounts earned. This matter has been turned over to the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and the State Auditor’s Office has been notified.”

The release states that Fire District 5 officials are cooperating with both agencies. Neither Crisp nor Fulbright would provide further details.

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office said that it is investigating a reported misappropriation of funds after being contacted last week by Fire District 5 commissioners. The office declined to comment further.

“We would like the community to know that the professional level of Fire and EMS services that they have become accustomed to will be maintained,” a release from the fire district states.