Four firefighters with the Adjala-Tosorontio Fire Department near Toronto claim they were fired after they notified their chain of command and the Township Council about safety concerns. The firefighters were offered a total of $23,050 between them if they would waive their right to fight the termination and if they would agree to never to speak publicly about the issue. The four decided not to take the money, and are seeking legal counsel to fight the township’s decision to fire them.
Here is an excerpt from an article at Simcoe.com, listing some of the firefighters safety concerns:
At a structure fire on Dec. 31, 2009, the group alleges one of the chiefs ordered firefighters into a barn on fire without proper respiratory equipment. The chief is also accused of making “disparaging remarks” about ATFD equipment, staff and belittling firefighters over the radio.
At an undated Tosorontio motor vehicle collision, another chief is accused of wearing flip flops and shorts while doing extrication work. The group claims former Chief Paul Wales was told about this, but failed to “act” on the concerns.
At a wildland fire at Sommerville farms in 2009, the group accuses one of the chiefs of heading down into a ravine despite being told not to by the incident commander. The group said the chief required rescue, which took six firefighters to pull him back up the hill using a hose line. The group claims this put the chief’s and the lives of the crew “at risk.”
None of the allegations by the terminated firefighters has been proven in court or at a hearing.
Thanks Dick
