Kentucky Fire Dept. Investigated For Numerous Cases of Alcohol Abuse

July 8, 2004
For months, investigators have looked into claims that several volunteer firefighters in Jessamine County have shown up for work impaired.
Alcohol allegations plague a volunteer fire department in Jessamine County.

For months, investigators have looked into claims some volunteer firefighters there have shown up for work impaired.

After further investigation, some incidents reportedly happened nearly two years ago.

There appears to be nothing out of the ordinary at the department. Its what you expect at a fire station. There's a truck, the siren, the fireman's boots, the hats, and even the manual. Everything is in its place.

When a call comes in, firefighters respond, but some people in Jessamine County say the crew is obviously impaired when they answer calls.

Deborah Noe is a Jessamine County resident. "I am just astonished. I didn't think about anything like this going on."

The fire board is investigating several volunteer firefighters from the Jessamine County fire district after they've been accused of working after drinking alcohol, not once, but multiple times over the past two years.

Jessamine County resident Robert Byrd, "I have nothing against them drinking a beer, but there's a time and place for it. Driving a truck is not one of them."

District fire board chair Dave Eldridge didn't want to talk on camera, but he did tell us the board has received complaints from people inside and outside the fire department that people were fighting fires and arriving on the scene of accidents while impaired.

Eldridge's says the board is taking this seriously and will investigate and reach a conclusion.

Eldridge says the last alleged incident happened sometime in May. He says the complaints name multiple firefighters and incidents, but says he can't be more specific.

The allegations don't set well with people who live in the fire department's service area. Robert Byrd is a former volunteer firefighter himself.

"People are not aware what a truck weighs while full of water. It's hard to stop, so you need all your full judgement."

Eldridge also says he doesn't know how long this investigation will take. He says none of the firefighters in question have been suspended or removed from their jobs.

27 NEWSFIRST tried to speak to the Jessamine County fire chief and some volunteer firefighters at the station, but they had no comment.

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