Detroit Fire Commissioner Sees Money in Firefighter Tourists

Memo suggests charging for ride-along training program that would put the visitors to work.


Want to learn to fight fires the Detroit way? Interested in riding-along and being put to work in a department that has lost firefighters due to layoffs? Willing to pay money for this privilege?

WJBK-TV reporter Charlie LeDuff says such a plan was outlined in an internal memo from Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Don Austin. The commissioner’s idea gets the full LeDuff treatment with Austin telling the reporter he will call him back with a comment, but doesn’t. Instead the mayor’s office called the reporter claiming there was nothing to discuss publicly about the internal memo.

WJBK-TV:

Since Mayor Bing gutted the fire service, the department has been forced to close down rigs and layoff men. What to do? Here’s a firecracker of an idea. Because Detroit for years has been a magnet for firefighter tourists riding along on the rigs, Commissioner Don Austin, according to his “ride-along training program” memo, is thinking, hey, why not put them to work and charge them for the privilege.

Read more: http://statter911.com/2012/09/07/detroit-fire-commissioner-sees-money-in-firefighter-tourists-memo-suggests-charging-for-ride-along-training-program-that-would-put-the-visitors-to-work/