cyber-casualty

Two Russian firefighters are facing disciplinary action after they posed for a “selfie” at the scene of a fire that killed 17 people on March 11, 2015. Ilya Bykov, Rostislav Krylov, 28, posed for the photo at the scene of fire in Kazan in the central Russian Republic of Tatarstan...

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Today’s burning question: I serve as the photographer for my department. In my station’s first due district we have a gated community. In the event of a response into the development, would the residents have a greater expectation of privacy from photo-taking since the area is gated? Answer: The short answer is the taking of the photos/video is probably legal, but the use of the photos/video is what is more likely to get you into trouble.

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It’s being referred to as a “culture of shame” and while it is Australia, its not all that different from what we are seeing in some fire departments here in the US. The Queensland Fire & Emergency Services is reeling following the release of an 80-page report on the status of women in their organization...

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An Instagram photo posted by a Philadelphia Fire Department paramedic has created a firestorm of controversy. Marcell Salters posted a photo depicting two black men pointing handguns at the head of a white police officer with the caption “Our real enemy. Need 2 stop pointing guns at each other and at the ones that's legally killing innocents."

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A Houston fire captain who was upset about his truck being broken into is in hot water over a Facebook rant that threatened Hispanic teenagers in his neighborhood.

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A Queensland, Australia firefighter is facing criminal charges over a Facebook scandal involving a “straw poll” where firefighters rated which female coworkers would be best in bed...

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A Houston firefighter has been placed on administrative duties as the department investigates offensive anti-Islamic posts on his personal Facebook page. The unidentified firefighter allegedly made the posts last month drawing the attention of KTRK TV Channel 13, who in turn brought them to the attention of the fire department.

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Firefighters in Queensland, Australia are under investigation for creating a Facebook “poll” to rate which of their female colleagues would be best in bed. According to The Courier-Mail, several female firefighters who were targets of the poll have been transferred and an outside investigation is now underway.

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Two Kenosha, Wisconsin union officials are facing suspensions for their role in a complicated case where a cellphone allegedly recorded a discussion that took place after they stepped out of a meeting with the fire chief. But the case raises a number of more complicated issues involving criminal law, evidence, and even a Constitutional question or two!!!

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Today’s burning question: My fire department gives firefighters a stipend of $125 dollars a year to cover the costs of various text messages they send us and any work related calls we make/receive. Does this give the department the right to search our personal phones? Answer: No, a simple stipend would not – in and of itself – authorize a fire department to “search” someone’s cellphone

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Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services 730 Pages/Softcover/August 2014 ISBN: 978-1-59370-347-9 Price: $89.00 The third edition of J. Curtis Varone’s Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services is an essential textbook for any course on fire service law as ...

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A Kentucky firefighter who complained about racially offensive Facebook postings has filed suit in state court claiming his chief and other fire department officials have created a hostile work environment by tolerating such statements. Michael Williams, a firefighter with the ...

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San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White has decided to rescind the reprimand she previous issued to Battalion Chief Mark Johnson for taking an unauthorized helmet cam video at the scene of the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 last July. ...

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A Miami Dade firefighter who has been under investigation since last December has been charged with sharing child pornography via Twitter. Gabriel Diaz, 38, a seventeen year veteran assigned to Public Education Unit, was arrested Thursday and remains in custody ...

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