The entire volunteer fire department of a Canadian town has been suspended after it was found that its members decided to refresh themselves with one of six beer kegs that they rescued from a hotel fire.
Mayor Pat Hampson was not satisfied with the initial response, which saw two firefighters suspended and the chief on a leave of absence. However, the Oliver Fire Department thought that the incident deserved a more robust response and a show of solidarity.
The mayor told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:
The fire department approached us and said, ‘Look, we’ve made a stupid mistake here, and we feel we should all take responsibility for it, even the members who aren’t at the incident,’ just to show solidarity amongst themselves.
In total, more than 30 members have been suspended, but not all at one time – the suspensions will be staggered.
I’m finding myself wondering why the hotel did not just give the firefighters a keg of beer for their troubles. Were it not for their quick thinking it all would have gone up in flames and they did rescue six. It would seem to be fair compensation for the few brave souls who choose to do a dangerous job for free.
Yes, the hotel should have given them the keg but it would have opened the door for other firemen to misuse the power and confidence put onto their shoulders by the people. Some things can’t be allowed, not even once.
Yes, the hotel should have given them the keg but it would have opened the door for other firemen to misuse the power and confidence put onto their shoulders by the people. Some things can’t be allowed, not even once.
….so even the people who had no involvement at all are expected to show solidarity to the members that did? Seems backward thinking to me. I certainly wouldn’t take kindly to being ‘punished’ for something I had no say in, and something that I was a volunteer for anyway. No they shouldn’t have done it. Fine them, or make them publicly apologise, but don’t tarnish the whole crew with the same brush.
….so even the people who had no involvement at all are expected to show solidarity to the members that did? Seems backward thinking to me. I certainly wouldn’t take kindly to being ‘punished’ for something I had no say in, and something that I was a volunteer for anyway. No they shouldn’t have done it. Fine them, or make them publicly apologise, but don’t tarnish the whole crew with the same brush.