STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — A volunteer firefighter says he was fired from his full-time job because he left work to respond to a homicide and attempted suicide.
Steamboat Today reported that Marc bell, who has been with the Oak Creek Fire Protection District fire department for seven years, thinks his employer broke the law.
“I know I was fired because I went on that call,” Bell said Thursday.
Officials with the company are reviewing the termination to make sure state laws and company policies were followed, according to the report.
“We’ll research that situation to make sure we are in compliance,” said Steve Greulich, director of human resources for Professional Transportation Inc.
Bell was working on May 29 when an emergency call came in and left work without telling his supervisor because of the nature of the emergency, according to the report.
“He’s one of the guys who everyone on the crew trusts to drive these calls,” said Oak Creek Fire Chief Chuck Wisecup. “He’s one of my best volunteers. I wish I had ten more of him.”
When Bell returned to work five minutes for the end of his shift, and admitted he did not account for the time he left work to respond to the call, according to the report.
“I just didn’t even think about it, and I left,” Bell said.
Bell said his supervisor said he was fired for sleeping on the job, receiving multiple complaints from railroad management and for submitting an inaccurate timecard, according to the report.
“I shouldn’t have been fired,” Bell said. “I should have been written up. I don’t want my job back. This is wrong that they fired me from going on that call.”