Winnipeg firefighters in hot water over fire scene photo

[jmur5074]

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg fire department says it is investigating to find out why two firefighters battling a blaze that caused $100,000 damage to a vacant house took time out to pose for pictures in front of the inferno.
Winnipeg Free Press photographer Boris Minkevich captured the scene, in which one firefighter stood in full equipment in front of the burning building while another snapped shots on his cellphone camera.
The pair were waiting for aerial equipment to be set up.
Deputy chief Ken Sim says the picture of the incident, which ran in the newspaper, ''really isn't a very reassuring photograph.''
He says he doesn't know why the pair were taking the picture or what they were supposed to be doing at the time, but says he is going to find out.
Sim says if dereliction of duty can be shown, the penalty can range from a note put in their file to more severe action.
Gloria Alagao, who lives next door to the burned-out house, says she's not impressed, and suggests the implications of the picture are frightening.
''Some of them are killing the fire on one side, and letting my house maybe burn - I don't know.''
Alex Forrest, president of the firefighters union, shrugged off the investigation, noting the personnel in the photo could not do anything but wait until more equipment arrived to douse the blaze.
''Is it inappropriate? Probably,'' he said. ''But we deal with life and death every single day. I didn't get one call about (a recent) fatality and the firefighters who risked their lives trying to save someone, but I got a dozen calls about this one.'' (Why can't all administrators be more like him?)


More at the link
Winnipeg FFs Embarassed by Photos | Firehouse.com

[pgg]

I don't see the problem. If they are waiting for others to spool up the equipment are they supposed to run around the blaze chanting?

[thanantos]

pee on it?

[Five-0]

pee on it?

That just stinks.

[tapout]

Alex Forrest, president of the firefighters union, shrugged off the investigation, noting the personnel in the photo could not do anything but wait until more equipment arrived to douse the blaze.
''Is it inappropriate? Probably,'' he said. ''But we deal with life and death every single day. [B]I didn't get one call about (a recent) fatality and the firefighters who risked their lives trying to save someone, but I got a dozen calls about this one.''

theres a guy with common sense...

[Pudge]

Props to the Union President. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but like others have said, what'ya gonna do? Sitting there doing nothing waiting for more equipment looks just as bad.

Maybe they just need a lesson in looking busy.

[bayern]

Whilst waiting around, one should always carry a clip board, and your partner a tape meassure. Most important, LOOK IMPORTANT.

[BigOSPig]

Sounds like people who complain about cops standing around a crime scene. Just because a passerby doesn't know what is going on they assume anyone who is standing around is not doing anything. Many times there is a time when nothing can be done BUT wait.