A recent news report shined a light on the tradition of drinking in the firehouse and how it may be starting to dry up among fire departments in northern New Jersey.
The Record (http://bit.ly/1hIhZVn) reported that while some volunteer fire departments have a bar on site, others have completely prohibited the practice.
On April 13 in Elmwood Park, a fire captain whom authorites accused of being drunk struck two utility poles with a ladder truck while driving back from a call. The fire apparatus sustained $250,000 in damage and was unavailable the day after the crash, when borough firefighters responded to a four-alarm fire. Afterward, Elmwood Park officials suspended alcohol use at the borough’s fire stations and said they would discuss a permanent ban.
The dangers of drunk apparatus driving are not confined to volunteer departments. Last year, a San Francisco (CA) firefighter suspected of being intoxicated allegedly struck a motorcyclist and left the scene.
Read more at http://bit.ly/1hIhZVn.
