14 DAY TRIAL // Etna's Fire Department was closed a few days ago after the Board of Selectmen took this decision due to some clips posted on the popular video sharing service YouTube. It seems that the department's internal policy was to not upload any video on the web as long as it shows details which could reveal the identity of the town. One of the clips infringed this policy by displaying Fire Chief Rick Goodell answering a call apparently inside his car, WLBZ2.com reports. The city's Board of Selectmen decided to close the entire department and urged the members to bring the equipment as soon as they can.
Apparently, the policy was imposed because the videos are supposed to be used only for training. However, the Fire Chief considers it was an irresponsible decision of the board since the entire town might be affected. "I have some disagreements about my freedom to make video recordings from within my privately owned vehicle. The board's reaction to that is harsh and irresponsible, and it puts the citizens of this town at risk", he said for WLBZ2.com.
The city's authorities scheduled a meeting for Monday to analyze the 6 videos published on YouTube which were already removed after the mayor required the Fire Chief to do so.
Obviously, the residents of the city are outraged by the decision, the entire town being affected since they are now protected by the fire departments of the neighboring areas. "My family lives in this town, and I am infuriated by this. I am personally going to be contacting the governor's office and the state senate. This is about the dumbest thing those people could have done. Reprimand the guy, or write him up, something like that, but putting the town at risk?? That's deplorable", a reader of ShortNews.com wrote on the page.