Free Press photo by Boris Minkevich
When Free Press photographer Boris Minkevich took this shot on Thursday evening at a house fire on Redwood Avenue in Winnipeg, he thought it innocent enough. He told Free Press reporter Bartley Kives , “There were numerous firefighters waiting for the apparatus to be set up. This only lasted a moment. I perceived it as an innocent thing I would do myself. I’ve been to a lot of fires.”
But Minkevich’s job is to shoot pictures. The job of the two people in the photo is to fight fires and their boss at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service isn’t happy. The picture is also getting wide distribution having been published on a number of news sites in Canada and the United States. Here are excerpts from Kives’ article:
On Friday, WFPS Deputy Chief Ken Sim said his department planned to investigate in the evening, when the firefighters in question returned to work.
“Our perspective at this time is this was inappropriate,” he said. “This is one of those pictures that begs the question, ‘What were they assigned to do that allowed them to take the picture?’ “
While firefighters are provided with cameras to document evidence, Sim said it appears the camera depicted in Minkevich’s photo was a “non-issued device.” Sim said his department will take “whatever action is necessary to take” once the firefighters in the photo are identified.
The president of the union representing Winnipeg firefighters shrugged off the investigation, noting the personnel in the photo could not do anything but wait until more equipment arrived to douse the blaze.
“Is it inappropriate? Probably. But we deal with life and death every single day,” said Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg. “I didn’t get one call about (a recent) fatality and the firefighters who risked their lives trying to save someone, but I got a dozen calls about this one.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Firefighter says he wanted picture for his son. More on the controversial photo from Winnipeg. – December 9, 2009
- Weekend Roundup. – December 7, 2009
- It isn’t just Houston. Baltimore reminds firefighters that picture taking isn’t allowed. – October 28, 2009
Freakin Disgusting!
Hey Gordie- take my pic Eh? It’ll look good on my phone whne I have to call my lawyer.
One moment of lapse of judgement….
It is unfortunate. As with most of the stuff like this that is disturbing, I hope that many learn from this.
In this day in age everyone loves to see a photo of themselves fighting fire or photos of the fires they fight.
However, that is the job of the photographers, buffs, and onlookers.
Our job is to put the fire out. Plain and simple.
It is hard to ask for more manpower, tools, equipment, and benefits when we have time for a “Hey Roy snap a photo of this” on the fireground.
President of their local union shrugs this off and can’t determine if this is inappropiate? Unprofessional! Think of it this way, would you feel confident and relieved with these guy doing this in front of YOUR house? How about your loved one’s house?
Wait, let me get my head between my legs.
Nemo, Thats exactly why I say this is deplorable.
And Fire Critic, no more a ‘MOMENTARY lapse in judgement’ than if the guy would have pulled a flask out of his turnout coat. C’mon man. It’s all premeditated.
Leave the cameras to Statter so he can get pissed when he isn’t allowed to get closer to the scene. Dave, I’m teasing.
What is more scary than anything is the total lack of hand tools. I do not see any!
The house looks abandon anyway. Risk nothing to save nothing. I think everybody needs to take a breath and take a fresh look at this.