What appears to be a hazing incident captured on video and posted to social media has led to the termination of five paid firefighters and the suspension of one volunteer with the Westfield Fire Department.
According to a report published by the local television station KPRC 2, the video posted on Snapchat was sent to the station by a concerned viewer. It shows a firefighter restrained on a backboard being doused with gallons of water, flour, condiments, chocolate sauce and a variety of other substances.
Westfield Fire Chief Stephen Whitehead was shown the video by the television station and expressed concern about the activity, especially the restraining which could have cause the firefighter serious injury. He identified the person on the backboard as a rookie who recently was removed from that status.
At one point during the video one of the firefighters can be heard mentioning the man strapped on the backboard was crying, the station reported, adding that the conversation said the rookie would only have to say he was done to have the activity stop.
Between mustard, yogurt and ice, as well as various other substances, the restrained firefighter was douse with large amounts of water from a tanker dump valve. The video is almost five minutes long.
The participants apparently were concerned about repercussions from the apparent hazing as one participant was admonishing others to make sure it wasn’t posted to social media, the television station reported.
Upon seeing the video, the chief opened an investigation, saying the behavior was “totally unacceptable.” He said he had never see that level of hazing before in his career.
Whitehead told the station that firefighters are supposed to protect lives and property especially their own. After the station initially published the story, Whitehead sent an email saying one volunteer firefighter with his department was suspended indefinitely and five part-time paid firefighters were terminated.
