The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Canadian Firefighters Admit to Fireground Beer Theft
The Canadian Press
OLIVER, B.C. _ A decision by some members of a volunteer fire department to take six kegs of beer from the fire-ravaged Mesa Hotel in Oliver, B.C., last month and open at least one for their own consumption could leave bitter feelings between firefighters and councillors in the south Okanagan town.
Mayor Pat Hampson said Monday although the firefighters paid the hotel owners for the beer, council was ''astounded and distressed'' at their poor judgment. RCMP and internal investigations have begun and two firefighters have been temporarily suspended.
The 98-year-old downtown hotel was gutted in a spectacular blaze on May 23.
Hampson said rumours of the beer's removal soon starting circulating and were confirmed on June 9.
''The fire chief advised us that three people on the fire department said: 'Yes, we did remove the beer and that was a stupid thing to do. We know we're not supposed to remove things from the fire scene,''' Hampson said.
The kegs were apparently transported by a private pickup truck to the fire hall, where at least one keg was tapped.
He said the town intends to address what he terms as a ''serious breach of discipline.''
''Their actions are a breach of trust for our residents who deserve to expect that the fire department will safeguard their property as they would their own,'' he said.
The mayor said he has heard a number of reasons for the beer removal, including that they could have been damaged when a backhoe arrived on scene to demolish the hotel's blackened remains.
A meeting between council and the entire fire department is scheduled possibly as early as this Thursday. With a police investigation underway, Hampson said council is wary of ordering any further disciplinary action at this time.
In the meantime, a ban on drinking alcohol in any town building has been issued. The fire hall's bar area in future can only be used for occasional licensed social events.
Hampson said he has also written a letter of apology to Don and Lisa Kazakoff, the owners of the Mesa Hotel. He noted the incident reflects on the whole town.
''It's a huge black eye and that's why it had to be jumped on very quickly,'' he said. ''It's going to cause tension and probably some hard feelings between some members of the department and council.''
Hampson acknowledged some fire department members would have preferred to have seen the whole issue settled internally.
''Apparently they felt they had resolved it with the owners, because the owners were paid for the beer,'' he said.
Fire chief Dave Janzen could not be reached for comment Monday.
News of the beer scandal comes on the heels of the June 13 slide which destroyed five homes and ruined orchards and vineyards next to Testalinden Creek south of Oliver.
Hampson said the last few weeks have taken on almost biblical connotations. First the fire, then the slide and flood, and now the ''locusts'' in the form of this current controversy. (Penticton Herald)
Copyright 2010 The Canadian Press
All Rights Reserved
June 22, 2010
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Mackie on
-
Sheesh... well, some firefighters start fires, some steal from their own organizations, and so I guess these friendly Canucks are just tryin to keep our image in tact eh! lol
-
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
-
For the sake of Canadian national pride, I at least hope it was Labatts.
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
-
Buncha hosers!
-
Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
-
Lighten up, Francis. Jeez in Australia the owner would have lent us a tap.
-
-
Musta been a preeetttteeeeeeee slow news day for the size of that newpaper article. Oh well, everyone has scandals. There is the Gulf Oil Disaster, and up here, well we need sompin to write about to! While I am certain that most Canadians would consider the oil spill a much bigger disaster, Judging by the reporting of it, this beer thing does come a close 2nd.
-
Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
-
Fire hall's BAR AREA?!?!?! I may be a little behind the curve, but an FD should never allow drinking on the premises! Sorry to be a party pooper, but...
-
-
Bar area! woah! I didn't catch that! I'm switching departments!
-
Permalink Reply by Tony P on
-
In my part of Australia, the hotel owner may well offer the loan of a tap. If he/she had said "thanks you lot, here, grab a keg". But to just take kegs from the scene? That's looting. Theft if you like. I'd be asking for their resignation, give them the choice of that or have them dismisssed from the service. I wouldn't want them on the station any more, it's bad enough when people say we take stuff, let alone have people give them evidence!
As for a Bar in the station? No. All stations are required to be "dry", except for specific events.
-
Permalink Reply by Oldman on
-
I've heard of rehab, but c'mon.
I'm not sure about up there, but $80 - $100 per keg, would get felony theft charges brought here in Texas. Even taking 1 keg here would get one bounced out of my department, regardless whether criminal charges were filed.
-
Permalink Reply by Bill Brierton on
-
I guess they weren't thinking, thirsty but definitely not thinking. It gives all fire fighters a bad name and in this age we need good press not bad.
-
Permalink Reply by Just Plain Craig Moyer on
-
We had a fire and 2 doors down a caterer was told he had to "get rid" of the food because of "extremely" minor smoke damage. Needless to say we ate good for a week.
-
Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
-
No old man up here we are a rule-less lot with no laws what so ever. Stupid and illegal on every level !
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
