Texas Firefighters Terminated Over Hazing Video

Posted by: Curt Varone March 14, 2017 3 Comments

Six firefighters with the Westfield Fire Department were terminated yesterday following a rookie hazing that was captured on video.

The video shows a firefighter strapped to a backboard having water and an assortment of food items dumped on him by his colleagues. An investigation revealed that victim of the prank was a firefighter who successfully completed his rookie period. While strapped to a backboard, fellow firefighters dumped water directly from a tanker-tender on him, along with buckets of water, mustard, flour, popcorn butter, chocolate, yogurt and ice.

Five part-time firefighter were terminated outright and a sixth firefighter, a volunteer, was suspended indefinitely (which in Texas is a euphemism for being terminated).

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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