UPDATE – Chief, 'deeply saddened', says there will be an investigation
UPDATE - The original poster removed the video around 11:00 AM EDT, but someone else has put it back up. It was up longer than I expected. The video was removed about 12 hours after it arrived on YouTube and four hours and fifteen minutes after it was posted to STATter911.com.
The video above was posted to YouTube last night complete with credits for this production. It's from Station 108 of the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department. Whatever happened to sending them out for a can of friction loss?
Also on STATter911 …
- Demoted Macon-Bibb County, GA Captain Stephanie Burke says she was scared by gun prank. Chief Marvin Riggins paints a different picture as he narrates longer version of video at hearing. – January 26, 2012
- Macon-Bibb County gunman prank update: Hearing discusses captain’s role in planning. Firefighters make claim there is culture of hazing to include painting of genitals. – December 15, 2011
- Firehouse rookie prank: The human cocoon. And this is on YouTube for what reason? – November 26, 2011
- UPDATE: TheWatchDesk.com announces it’s temporarily closing. Ominous message from a site administrator has been modified to exclude reference to threats. – May 30, 2012
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Good thing the local cops didn't stop by for a quick chat at the firehouse or something.
Someone might've ended up having a REALLY bad day…
At least both races were represented.
Is anyone really that surprised?
You Tube, Face Book, Twitter.
Turning Americans into attention whores evrey second.
For the people who dont know how the station is ran or how the people at the station get along, jokes are played all the time and people, btt this is clearly a joke gone bad in the eye's of the public.
Had this been in my firehouse, the jokester could have easily been shot by the POlice…… They are in and out of most county firehouses, and had they heard shots fired, I am sure they would shot this guy multiple times. DUMB!
stupidity at its finest every one should be diciplined for their actions, especially in these times. we have kids defending our freedoms so these jackies can do this sort of thing.IDIOTS
Firehouse pranks need to cease. It is hard enough to make a point with students that they can't tote a gun and claim it is a joke. Students spend a year of expulsion formuch less. . . like having one in a book bag.
These guys have obviously broken several laws and need to go home without pay or vacation days.
If we expect kids to act civilized, the "heros"they look up to in the community need to set a better example.
The IAFF will spend plenty of union dues and tax dollars defending them
Pranks with guns are not funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that they may need to ammend their credits with the prefix "Former" before their names…
Dumb!
Heads will probably be put on the "Chopping Block"!
You guys are such negative nancy’s. What happened to the brotherhood in the fire department? You are all too busy trying to throw them under the bus. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? As far as the prank being dangerous? I hate to tell you but F.D. Doesn’t mean fire department, but rather freaking dangerous.
You know PtownB, I was wondering exactly the same thing when I saw this video, “What happened to the brotherhood in the fire department?”.
How could the people who set up this idiotic prank and then broadcast it to the world be so uncaring about their brother firefighters? It was an enormously selfish thing to do.
Here’s what they’ve done and will likely do to and for their brother firefighters because they forgot what brotherhood is all about:
1. They’ve put the jobs of a bunch of brothers in jeopardy.
2. They were completely uncaring about the safety of their brothers (the potential of this going wrong and someone getting hurt was quite great)
3. They have brought ridicule, scorn and embarrassment to the department and the fire service (Google it to see that this story is now all over the world).
4. They have local political leaders who hold the purse strings questioning what it is firefighters do.
5. They have one political leader all over the fire chief about this one (but I guess he’s a chief and not a brother firefighter).
6. They will likely cause quite a bit of turmoil in the lives of some fellow firefighters who will have to be transferred from posts they might enjoy to Station 108 to cover for fired, suspended and/or transferred firefighters (what chief would let this crew stay together?).
7. They have helped launched the career of some new brothers in a way that has much potential to haunt them for years to come.
Here’s some real brotherhood for you. Take this video and show it to every firefighter, young and old, that you can (that’s the reaosn I posted it). Make sure they understand the lessons learned from this so none of what I mentioned above happens to them or their department.
By all means if these are your friends support them in their battle anyway you can. That’s what friends are for. Just don’t make excuses that will allow some other brother to think “We are firemen and because we put our lives on the line we can do this crap and it’s okay.”
Statter
Credits should say………
Film shot at FORMER WORKPLACE….
Starring FORMER EMPLOYEES
I love a good prank myself but this is so over the top… a gun with blanks!!!??? You are nuts if you defend this, it's ridiculous!
okay it was a gun that was not fired. If you didnt see the guy who is brought to the back is lighting a firecracker. Damn pay attention people
I stand corrected. Thank you for pointing that out. I was more focused on the people laying on the floor and being totally disgusted by it all. I'll pay better attention next time someone decides to throw the fire service under the bus for a "laugh" and VIDEO IT. Once again I apologize.
This is disgusting. What about this would have fostered more teamwork or made the rookies better firemen – absolutely nothing. In fact, I wouldn't have been suprised if one of them didn't take a shot at an "end-run" for a butcher knife.
I do think the videographer actually did everyone who works there a favor in the future as a validation for the lack of common sense in that house.
This "prank" will go down as one of the dumbest moments in the history of firehouse life. Sad
Exactly, Dave.
Many firefighters fail to realize that membership in the "brotherhood" must be earned upon joining the fire service, it is not a given right to all members. These firefighters endangered themselves and made their department (and therefore the ENTIRE American fire service) a joke on the internet (an international stage). In my book, they disgraced the brotherhood and I would not simply dismiss their actions because they are "brothers". They will have to EARN back the respect of their peers, if they are allowed to continue in this profession.
If a rogue firefighter decides to light a random house on fire for kicks, would you stand behind his actions because he's a "brother"? What if he inadvertantly killed somebody; would you support his act of arson under the veil of "brotherhood"? What if the victim was ALSO a "brother" firefighter?
Just because he is a fellow firefighter, it doesn't mean that his actions are flawless. There is nothing wrong with supporting the actions of these individuals if you believe they did nothing wrong, but find a better defense than "brotherhood"…especially in a forum of OTHER firefighters.
Dave, there's a rumble in my chest…I think I feel a blog post coming on…
L L,
Glad that we occasionally perspsire … I mean inspire.
Statter
i am quite sure that would have turned out much more differently at some stations, i for one am armed 99% of the time around the station, call it paranoia or self preservation but i would rather go home jobless that in a box. not sure who thought this was a good idea for a "prank" but this behaviour should never ever be tollerated by any professional in any profession.
Heck, in the corporate world, the wrong *talking* about guns and shooting can have an negative career impact…
With apologies to George Costanza, the firehouse isn't Thunderdome. Anything should not go.
These bozos should be fired; if not, then there is a failure of leadership. It is not good enough to be "saddened". The Chief should have ordered immediate suspensions pending an investigation which could be conducted by simply watching the video and then firing the twits. There are plenty of applicants for these jobs.
A failure to fire them is to condone their actions.