(Oct. 16) -- An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Land Management found evidence of hazing and sexual harassment of rookie firefighters during training. The Channel 8 I-Team first reported Wednesday night that an investigation was underway into alleged wrongdoing by BLM fire crews.
The BLM was reluctant to describe what charges were being probed, but Thursday night, they're talking on the record. The BLM insists that some of the more shocking allegations reported by the Channel 8 I-Team were "not" substantiated by their investigation. But that investigators did find evidence of sexual harassment, hazing, and inappropriate behavior by as many as ten BLM fire personnel.
A spokeswoman for the government clarified by saying that the probe centered on two fire crews consisting of ten fire employees. That a female recruit was sexually harassed by a veteran firefighter and that other recruits were demeaned and humiliated by being forced to wear children's dolls around their necks were among the findings.
The BLM specifically denied finding any evidence that rookies were ordered to strip down to their underwear and urinate on themselves, or that women were fondled, or that anyone attempted to commit sodomy; allegations which were made to us by more than one source.
As Eyewitness News emphasized twice during Wednesday night's original report, there are several versions of the allegations floating around by both the BLM and the Forest Service. BLM repeatedly declined to answer any questions about the nature of its investigation and said it was unsure whether it would "ever" make the information public.
It did Thursday, saying that the personnel involved could face discipline ranging from no action up to suspensions or dismissals. BLM said again it has zero tolerance for the type of behavior that it found within the Las Vegas ranks. Eyewitness News is requesting a copy of the investigation report but is being given no assurances that it will ever be released.
Eyewitness News also reported Wednesday night that strained relations between the BLM and the Forest Service have led people in both agencies to discuss dissolving the joint operation agreement they have that calls for the two to train firefighters together. This incident of what BLM calls inappropriate behavior seems to have added fuel to that fire, but no one wants to talk about that on the record either.
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