DETROIT — Call it adventure tourism for firefighters, a new revenue scheme, or the dumbest idea you’ve ever heard. The Detroit City Commissioner is considering hiring firefighter tourists to help fight fires as part of the city’s “ride-along training program,” according to MyFOXDetroit.
The scheme involves charging visiting firefighters a fee to respond to calls with DFD. After cuts made to the Detroit fire services forcing layoffs and rig closures, the city is trying to make up for lost man power and money, according to MyFOXDetroit.
While some firefighters may get a kick out of being a big-city firefighter for a day, opponents of the idea say it is risky.
“What about when the roof falls on the guy that’s out helping? Who’s going to take care of his liability part?” an unnamed firefighter said.
Others believe more needs to be invested into those laid off, not into replacing the laid off with firefighting tourists.
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said the proposed idea was an internal memo and wasn’t meant to be discussed publically.