OROVILLE, Calif. — Video of a man in a supermarket parking lot criticizing firefighters for buying groceries while on duty has gone viral.
News10Net reported that the YouTube video was shot through a car window by another shopper. The man is loudly complaining that three Butte (Calif.) County firefighters were shopping at a store four miles from the station rather than the neighborhood market around the corner.
“I’m paying for them to be down here on the clock,” the angry man said. “I can tell you right now I could probably get 90 percent of all the people here in Butte County to sign a thing stating this is totally ridiculous.”
Oroville Fire Chief Bill LaGrove explained to the public why a fire apparatus is used to run such errands. He also said it’s appropriate for on-duty crews, who pay for their own groceries, to shop at the store rather than a neighborhood market, according to the report.
“The Wagon Wheel market that was mentioned [in the video] is a fine market,” LaGrove said. “But it’s a butcher shop with specialty meats and is not designed for your full-service shopping.”
Butte County Fire Chief Greg McFadden said he was proud of his firefighters for their calm demeanor.
“I very much appreciate how they handled themselves,” McFadden said.
The man has not yet lodged a formal complaint with the department. The man was also reportedly berating other firefighters at the same store.