A city firefighter crashed an FDNY rig while taking his kids on a holiday party joyride — with his firefighting colleagues then mounting a failed Christmas cover-up, the Daily News has learned.
FDNY firefighter John Burke, 42, was suspended for 30 days after he drove straight into trouble on Dec. 15 at his annual firehouse holiday party on W. 143rd St.
The festivities drew families from Burke’s company at Engine 69, as well as Ladder 28 and Battalion 16, to the crowded “Harlem Hilton” firehouse, with firefighters parking all their FDNY rigs outside for the day.
Despite strict FDNY rules against giving unauthorized rides to civilians, Burke loaded at least two of his three kids onto a fire truck and took the family out for a spin.
The fun only lasted a few blocks before Burke plowed into an empty parked car and a dumpster and took off, according to sources.
Though none of the Burke kids were injured, the crash caused thousands of dollars in damages to the rig.
Yet the NYPD has no record of anyone from the firehouse calling to report a crash that day.
The only call to the local precinct came from a New Jersey man who discovered someone had sideswiped his white van during the afternoon while it was parked at 150th St. and Macombs Place — about seven blocks north of the firehouse.
FDNY spokesman Frank Gribbon said officers at the house reported the crash up the chain of command.
“The firefighter has been suspended without pay for 30 days and the incident is under investigation,” Gribbon said.
But some firefighters initially discussed how best to cover up the crash for Burke — and invent a story to explain the rig’s damages, sources said.
No alcohol is allowed at FDNY firehouse parties. Burke was not given a breathalyzer after the incident — possibly because too much time had passed before it was reported.
Burke did not respond to requests for comment.
Reached at their Queens home Friday, his wife declined to comment about the accident. She did say giving firefighter kids a quick ride on a truck at a holiday party wasn’t uncommon despite the regulations against it.
“All of these firehouses bring kids in the engines,” she said.
The wrecked rig is just the latest black eye for the FDNY, which is still dealing with fallout from a boozy Bronx brawl that erupted among firefighters outside a bar on last year’s medal day in June.
Seven firefighters and one lieutenant were suspended after FDNY honchos got a hold of video of the fist-flying melee that sent one Bravest to the hospital.
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