Facebook Comments Lead to Bel Air Firefighter Suspensions

Nine members of the were reprimanded this week over inflamatory comments made on Facebook.

Three members of the fire company were suspended for four weeks along with a recommendation to the company Board of Directors they be terminated from the fire company, , spokesman for .

In addition to the three suspensions, one member was demoted from regular firefighter to entry level firefighter and placed on a year of probation, a second was demoted from lieutenant to firefighter and the remaining four were given verbal reprimands and additional work details, according to 's .

The action stems from a Facebook thread started May 30.

On Monday, June 4, a concerned citizen emailed the fire company and local media about the Facebook posts, which were made by firefighters with the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

Attached to the email was a screenshot of the conversation on social media.

The posts revolved around firefighters' outrage over being denied a discount at the .

"Even when myself and a full engine crew are in turnout gear at Sonic for lunch, the manager still says only police and military get discounts. Cool, thanks we appreciate the support," the initial post read.

The post received 20 comments which included suggestions that someone set the business dumpster ablaze and that the fire company not respond if the business were to catch fire.

"Yea I smell a delayed response there," one user wrote.

Additional comments such as, "Let it burn," and "Wait til its on fire, then see what he says... Epic fail on sonics part [sic]," followed.

Bel Air fire chief Edward Hopkins told ExploreHarford.com Tuesday, that he recognized some of the posters as people who possibly belong to other fire companies, according to a story on the site.

“This is unacceptable behavior of our membership," "I am extremely disappointed and ashamed that any of our members would make these statements. This type of activity has been dealt with swiftly. I cannot express my disappointment to these members enough."

President of the fire company, , expressed similar sentiments when he spoke with WBAL.

"I'm embarrassed. I'm disappointed I have to stand in front of a camera and apologize to everyone, to firefighters everywhere, over these few individuals who believe that they are entitled to some special consideration," Coliano said in the WBALTV.com interview.

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