FL Firefighter's GoPro Fatal Fire Video May Get Him Fired
Source Firehouse.com News
The personal GoPro video of a fatal fire taken by a veteran Orlando firefighter may lead to his termination.
According to Orlando television station, News 6, the firefighter, who has not been identified, allegedly took a video of an attempted medical rescue of a 67-year-old man who was a victim of a house fire in March. The video is a potential violation of the fire department’s medical privacy policy, the station reported.
The video shows firefighters pulling the limp body of the man being pulled from a side window of the burning home and the 17-minute video shows three minutes of firefighters performing life-saving measures on the victim who perished as a result of the injuries he received during the fire.
In a statement issued by Orlando Fire Department’s Public Information Manager Ashley Papagani said: “Patients in need of medical care have a right to privacy under federal and state laws and also the Orlando Fire Department policies.”
Papagani said the firefighter who took the video is under investigation and will remain on the job during the investigation. She added the department makes no exceptions for its privacy standards.
“The Orlando Fire Department has a well-deserved reputation for and is committed to serving the community with professionalism and integrity," Papagani said. "It is important that all members honor this reputation and exemplify these values in the performance of their duties. Furthermore, patients in need of medical care have a right to privacy under federal and state laws and also the Orlando Fire Department policies."
