Buzz
The recent wildfires that ravaged California have once again placed firefighters under public scrutiny. Over the past few months, media outlets have been filled with stories of brave firefighters risking everything to battle the destructive flames, with some even losing their lives in the process.
While many firefighters have proven to be true heroes, others have shown themselves to be unreliable and untrustworthy. At times, this has even involved entire firefighting teams or departments.
10. Firefighters Decline to Act Over a $75 Fee
In 2010, firefighters from South Fulton, Tennessee, let a house burn to the ground because the owners had failed to pay a $75 fee. The property was located in Obion County, which lacked its own fire department and relied on South Fulton for fire services. In return, South Fulton charged residents in Obion County a yearly fee of $75 for coverage.
On September 29, 2010, a fire broke out at a house in Obion County. Gene Cranick, the homeowner, called the South Fulton Fire Department for help, but they refused to respond because Cranick had not paid the annual fee. They checked their records every time someone from Obion County called to verify if the fee had been paid.
Cranick offered to pay any amount the fire department requested to put out the fire, but they declined. Later, they arrived at the scene but did not attempt to extinguish the flames. Instead, they simply watched the house burn, only concerned that the fire might spread to a neighbor's house that was covered by the fee.
9. Firefighters Denied Assistance to a Heart Attack Victim Because No One Dialed 911
In 2014, 77-year-old Medric Cecil Mills collapsed from a heart attack while walking past the Northeast Washington fire station in Washington, DC. His daughter rushed to the fire station to ask the 15 firefighters on duty for assistance.
The firefighters refused to intervene because 911 had not been called. Even when three different groups of people informed them that Medric was dying, the firefighters insisted that 911 needed to be called first.
In the meantime, 911 was contacted, but a fire truck was dispatched from a distant station, and unfortunately, it went to the wrong address. Medric remained on the ground for 20 minutes until a police officer arrived and arranged for an ambulance. Sadly, Medric passed away on the way to the hospital.
8. Firefighter Runs Away from a Blaze
Pyrophobia, the fear of fire, is one condition that firefighters should not suffer from. Yet, Michael D. Johnson, a firefighter with the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), is so terrified of fire that he refuses to enter burning buildings and will even flee, abandoning his fellow firefighters in the process.
On April 2, 2015, Johnson was part of a firefighting team that responded to a house blaze. He was expected to assist two colleagues in carrying a fire hose into the burning house. Instead, Johnson fled, abandoning both of his teammates in a dangerous situation. To alert the department to Johnson’s unusual phobia, his captain issued a 'mayday' over the walkie-talkie, a distress signal typically used when a firefighter is in immediate danger or has died.
Other firefighters had frequently voiced concerns about Johnson and feared working with him. They referred to him as 'Tragic Johnson,' knowing that he would not help them if they found themselves in life-threatening situations. However, they refrained from complaining openly due to the sensitive nature of his employment. Johnson was one of the black firefighters hired after a court ordered the FDNY to increase its minority workforce.
After the incident, Johnson was retrained but expressed reluctance to return to his firefighting duties. Nevertheless, the fire chief insisted that he return to the job. Other firefighters claimed that the FDNY only kept Johnson on the team to meet its minority hiring requirements. Clearly, the department should have recognized Johnson’s fear of fire, especially since he had passed the Fire Academy on his third attempt and required two retraining sessions.
7. Firefighter Uses His Uniform to Rob Homes While Off Duty
Craig White was once a paramedic with the Sacramento Fire Department until he was caught stealing from homes while wearing his official fire department uniform. White visited several homes in the Sunrise Vista Mobile Home Park in Circus Heights during his off hours, claiming he was there to check that the homes were fire compliant.
Once inside, White would ask to use the bathroom. He never performed any fire inspections and was only interested in stealing prescription opiates he found there. He particularly targeted elderly residents, knowing they were more likely to have opiates in their homes. He visited seven houses, stealing opiates from two of them before being arrested.
6. Firefighter Refuses to Respond to Fires at Refugee Shelters
In recent years, forced migration has been a hotly debated topic in Europe. During the peak of the European refugee crisis in 2015, a German firefighter added fuel to the fire when he sent a letter to his department explaining that he would refuse to fight any fires in buildings or shelters housing refugees.
At that time, thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East sought refuge in Europe. Germany, a primary destination, saw an influx of three times more immigrants than usual. However, not all Germans were welcoming. Refugees faced violent attacks, and their homes were often set alight. In one instance, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into a house where three refugees were living, igniting the fire.
The firefighter, 34-year-old Jurgen S., served with the Frankenberg fire service in Frankenberg, Saxony. He asked to be excused from fighting fires at two refugee shelters, both in Frankenberg and other locations, citing safety concerns for the firefighters working at these sites.
Jurgen received significant backlash from both Germans and Europeans for his controversial letter, but eventually withdrew it. The Frankenberg fire department later clarified that Jurgen’s opinion was personal, stating that the department would continue to respond to fires at refugee shelters.
5. Drunk Firefighter Crashes Fire Truck
In 2017, Curtis Allen Cottrill, a volunteer firefighter with the Sharon Fire Department in Pennsylvania, was arrested after causing a crash involving his fire truck. Prior to the accident, he had already collided with a fire hydrant and a telephone pole. A bystander discovered the wrecked truck and the intoxicated firefighter, reporting that Curtis had abandoned the vehicle and was attempting to hitch a ride away from the scene.
When police arrived, they found Curtis walking away from the crash site. Upon searching, they found cocaine in his wallet and discovered his driver's license had been suspended. Unfortunately, driving under the influence isn't as rare among firefighters as one might think. Just a year later, on June 6, 2018, another firefighter was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Jeffrey Feaster, a volunteer with the Humboldt Fire Department, had responded to an emergency when officers noticed he reeked of alcohol and had difficulty speaking. A breath test revealed his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit. Feaster later resigned from his position.
4. Firefighter Steals $167 From Firehouses
Joshua Williams, a 25-year-old firefighter with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, was dismissed after being caught stealing money from various fire stations. He took the money while delivering supplies to multiple locations within the department.
Some of Williams' coworkers became suspicious when they noticed money going missing. To catch the culprit, they had police detectives set up a spy camera in the kitchen and placed money in three spots they thought the thief would target. Williams stole from two of those locations while making his deliveries. He was arrested shortly after, with $167 of the marked bills found in his pockets.
3. Firefighters Break Fire Ban and Create Campfire
The photo showed Adams Lake in the background, which proved the fire was started in an area where the ban was in effect. The situation became controversial since the fire was ignited by firefighters themselves. Mike McCulley, a spokesperson for B.C. Wildfire Services, stated that the department was looking into the matter and emphasized that the fire ban applied to everyone, including firefighters.
2. Firefighters Accidentally Burn Down Firehouse
In 2014, firefighters at Golden Bridge Fire Department inadvertently set their headquarters on fire. While working on a truck, a spark ignited and quickly grew into a blaze. The fire spread to the second floor because the door, which typically closed on its own, had been propped open by something, allowing the flames to reach the upper floor.
The department's insurance company, Arch Insurance Co., filed a lawsuit demanding that the firefighters cover the $9 million cost of the damages. They accused the firefighters of being “reckless, negligent, and careless” while working on their vehicle. In defense, the firefighters argued that Arch Insurance was simply trying to make them pay for the loss, knowing that they were all volunteers.
1. Firefighters Start Fires at Homes
Firefighter arson is a hidden issue that many fire departments would prefer to keep quiet. It involves firefighters intentionally starting fires in homes and forests to ensure they are called in to extinguish the flames. In the U.S., more than 100 firefighters are arrested for arson every year.
There are various reasons why some firefighters start fires deliberately. Some are drawn to the excitement of fighting fires so much that they create their own emergencies. Others aim to be seen as heroes or simply want to increase their overtime pay. Another group is focused solely on testing their fire-fighting abilities.
A study found that volunteer firefighters and those working in small departments are the most likely to engage in arson. One notorious firefighter arsonist was John Orr, who set hundreds of fires. He earned the nickname 'Pillow Pyro' for using pillows to start his fires. His arrest only occurred after he wrote a book about a firefighter who committed similar acts.
Another infamous firefighter arsonist is Benjamin Cunha, a member of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cunha was sentenced to five years in prison after starting 30 fires between 2006 and 2007. He typically set forests on fire but once ignited a mine as well. He admitted to starting the fires for the thrill and to make more money while feeling like a hero.
