DETROIT — The Detroit Fire Department is taking heat after a controversial photo that appears to show dozens of firefighters posing as a vacant home burns in the background circulated on Facebook.
According to the Detroit News, the firefighters in the photo, snapped Tuesday evening on Green Street, were marking the retirement of a battalion chief, Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell told the newspaper. The Detroit Fire Incidents Page shared the image later that night.
“Crews take a moment to get a selfie on New Years!” the page reportedly captioned the photo, which has since been deleted but was captured in screenshots.
A follow-up post Wednesday afternoon said the page removed the photo because firefighters claimed they had been threatened with “punitive actions.”
The Fire Department told WXYZ-TV that the pictured house and a neighboring home were both vacant. Authorities said firefighters were unable to enter the burning home at the time because of dangerous conditions, the Detroit News reported.
“There are a lot of ways to celebrate a retirement,” Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said in a statement, according to WXYZ. “Taking a photo in front of a building fire is not one of them. We will investigate this matter and follow the facts where they lead us. If this photo is verified, discipline will be in order.”