By Angela Rozas
The Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — The Chicago Fire Department has banned all personal computers at fire stations amid an investigation into whether a firefighter inappropriately used his at work, an official said Monday.

The department issued a general order to all firefighters on April 2 that the Internet could no longer be accessed for personal use unless firefighters received a waiver from the department, said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. He added however that firefighters can work on their computers during evening down times as long as they do not access the Internet.

While officials said the prohibition had been in the works for months, it was just issued after an investigation was launched into the firefighter's allegedly inappropriate use of a personal computer. The department declined to be more specific about the allegations.

"We had been working on this general order, so when it occurred it helped us to really finalize the scope of the general order," said Eve Rodriguez, a Fire Department spokeswoman. "We took quick action and made sure everybody across the board knew about this order."

Firefighters can use city-owned computers at fire stations that allow them access to the city's intranet as well as limited Internet access to sites such as Firehouse Magazine and other fire fighting-focused pages, she said.

The firehouse computers have the same filters as those on all city computers to limit access and allow them to be monitored, Rodriguez said.

"If you're on company time, you're not allowed to be on a personal laptop using it for personal business," she said. "You're supposed to be using it for work purposes."

Thomas Ryan, president of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2, said that he knew of the investigation, but he did not know any details.

The local's membership board plans to discuss the new general order at a meeting Wednesday, Ryan said, but the union was not consulted. "This is something I know is a very touchy subject with our guys right now," said Ryan.

Copyright 2008 Chicago Tribune Company