JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly a dozen black firefighters, that were previously given medical waivers, were sent home for not shaving.
State rules require firefighters to have a clean-shaven face so that facial hair does not come between the sealing surface of a face piece, News4Jax reported. However, under Mayor Alvin Brown’s administration, black firefighters were given an exemption to have short beards since they are more prone to getting razor bumps when they shave.
“The cure for that is just to grow your beard out, show and leave a shadow. Your mask can still seal properly,” said Ivan Mote, who recently retired as the department’s chief of rescue.
A memo was sent to firefighters Wednesday, letting them know that they must be clean-shaven and if not they will be placed on temporary limited duty.
The memo was sent to all firefighters, but members of the Brotherhood of Firefighters said the change really just affects them.
“All of these firefighters were fit for duty this time last week,” Mote said. “All of a sudden, the memo comes out and they are no longer fit for duty. So what you have is about a dozen firefighters who will be on administrative duty for able-bodied firefighters who could go to work but are forced to take sick leave who are not sick. Actually, the condition that makes them sick is to shave.”
The fire chief said this is a human resources issue and the mayor’s office would have to address it, according to the report.
The Brotherhood of Firefighters said they believe the incident is retaliation against firefighters who spoke out about a Photoshopped image of a firefighter that was made to look like a terrorist.