By Richard Weir
The Boston Herald

Photo Boston Herald Boston firefighters picket at the Neponset Ave. station, Wednesday.

BOSTON — Defiant off-duty firefighters are disobeying Fire Department orders and voluntarily staffing three Boston fire companies that were closed today as part of a new "brown out" policy aimed at reducing overtime spending.

"It's the people's firehouse. We are volunteering to staff these firehouses to make sure the public gets the protection it deserves," said Boston firefighters union President Ed Kelly, who used a department radio this morning to report that "Volunteer Engine 20 is in service."

The Fire Department "browned out" three fire companies this morning: Engine 56 in the Orient Heights section of East Boston, the first Boston engine company to respond to emergencies at Logan Airport after Mass Port’s fire units; Engine 20 in the Neponset enclave of Dorchester and Ladder 18 at the D Street Station in South Boston.

Full story: Boston firefighters are prohibited from volunteering to perform their jobs