BENNINGTON, Vt. — Fifteen members of a fire department have been suspended for their participation in which a camper was set on fire last month.
Bennington Banner reported that the members attended the Mudder’s Day event hosted by a local resident and their illegal burning without a permit at the event is being investigated.
“That’s what the investigators are looking into,” Gary Kessler, director of compliance and enforcement for DEC, confirmed Tuesday.
At least one video posted on YouTube showed members of the fire department in fire gear putting out the fire, according to the report.
The firemen have been suspended while the investigation is pending and the suspensions appear to have left the department short on manpower, according to the report.
“The chief has requested assistance through the mutual aid agreement since they may be short-handed at some of their calls,” Bennington Town Manager Stuart Hurd said.
A permit to burn the camper was not obtained and burning other material is generally not permitted unless it is a training exercise for a fire department, according to the report.
“In general terms, if you are burning something other than untreated, unpainted wood, that’s not permitted,” he said.
A flare was used to start the fire before a car was driven through it as a part of the event’s “grand finale,” and firemen on scene put the fire out after the stunt.
“That’s why they’re coming down on the firemen, because of the flare and the accelerant,” Milo Campbell, the resident who hosted the event, said.
Penalties for an illegal burn range from civil violation tickets to criminal matters in environmental court, according to the report.