City officials are staying next to silent on the resignation of Bothell Fire and Emergency Management Director Warren Burns.

Burns resigned effective March 31. He had served as fire chief since September 2006.

City Public Information Officer Joyce Goedeke released a one-paragraph statement, giving no reason for Burns' departure and mostly spelling out the size of the department.

The release did state that Burns "separated from the city as an employee in good standing."

A second news release, dated April 22, added no further information on the reasons for Burns' departure, but praised the former fire chief for his time with the city.

"The city of Bothell is grateful to Chief Burns for his years of dedicated service and extends to him its sincere appreciation for his leadership," Goedeke wrote.

Neither Goedeke nor a spokesperson for the fire department would confirm or deny reports that the city was investigating Burns at the time of his resignation for reasons not made public.

Burns reportedly was on administrative leave — again, for reasons not made public — since Feb. 20.

Mayor Mark Lamb also declined comment on the issue, saying personnel matters fall under the jurisdiction of Bothell's city manager. He said under Bothell's form of government, the only person council hires directly is the city manager.

Former Deputy Fire Chief Rudy Alvarado was appointed acting chief. According to Goedeke, he will oversee a department with a two-year budget of $17.9 million and consisting of 54 uniformed officers and nine civilian personnel.

Alvarado and other fire-department staffers all declined comment on Burns' leaving during a ceremony held April 21 to honor those who helped save the life of the department's Lt. Gary Wick following a serious accident in December.

The city declined to release contact information for Burns and he could not be reached for comment.

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