Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation after a crew allegedly gave rides to children on their engine. Three officers are potentially facing disciplinary action.
The trio were reported after they were said to have allowed youngsters to go on the fire engine during an open day at a station in the region. It is understood the service believes the inquiry is justified as the rides were on a public highway.
Community Engagement Backlash
One unnamed firefighter told the Manchester Evening News: "One of the children was a little boy who is recovering from cancer. It made both his day - and his parents'. The brigade is always pushing community engagement, then they react like this, which is completely over the top.
"It is a travesty. The engine went no more than a quarter of a mile down the road then circled a roundabout and came back. It was not even two minutes.
"The lad loves fire engines and it is the type of stuff done by many firefighters over the years. This is all part of a recent clampdown on discipline by the service's professional standards department. Really, in this case, a bit of common sense should have been applied."
Potential Disciplinary Action
The case has infuriated the rank and file. They could be given a final written warning or worse and there is talk of possible industrial action - not striking - but some other action.
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "As a matter of policy, the Service does not comment on individual employee issues, investigations or disciplinary processes, whilst the matter is ongoing. Where concerns are raised regarding conduct, they are considered through the appropriate procedures to ensure the standards expected of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service staff are maintained."
The source added: "It was an open day so the appliance would have been off the run and would only have been required if we had a huge fire which required multiple pumps."
The investigation will seek to establish if there were any health and safety breaches and exactly how many rides were given.
