Volunteer firefighter in Lincoln Park charged with stabbing colleague in boat dispute

A volunteer firefighter is charged with stabbing another firefighter in an argument over a fire boat they were working on, police said.

Police were dispatched Monday at 9:15 p.m. to Lincoln Park Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company 1 on Chapel Hill Road on a report that a firefighter had been stabbed in the forearm during a dispute, according to Sgt. William Karback, a police department spokesman.

Officers arriving on the scene were told that a 20-year-old man had been stabbed after a dispute with Travis Donka, who is also a volunteer firefighter.

Police were told the two had gotten into an argument over the fire boat they were servicing, and that Donka had stabbed the other man, according to Karback, who said officers recovered a lock blade knife that had been used by Donka.

The victim, whose name was not released by police, was transported to the Chilton Memorial Hospital where he received medical attention for the wound and was later released.

Donka, 22, of Lincoln Park, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

Bail was set by Municipal Court Judge Andrew Wubbenhorst at $2,500. Donka was later released after posting bail, but he was terminated as a member of the fire department, Karback said.

The fire chief could not be reached for comment Wednesday.