City orders firefighters to eat MREs in response to grocery shopping on duty complaints

Morus Metro fire (MMFD) has been under heat from citizens questioning the need for firefighters to shop at the grocery store on duty time. In response the city council has ordered the use of military MREs to feed on duty firefighters.

The problems started when the Morus Organic co-op questioned why firefighters always shopped at Wal-mart and Piggly Wiggly, but never at their co-op. MMFD responded citing the fact that the co-op is a members only store, and none of the firefighters have a membership.

Unfortunately the damage was already done. Citizens quickly wondered why firefighters could shop on duty. The common statement was “if they eat at work then they shop before heading into work just like everyone else”. Other citizens stated “How much of my tax money is wasted on gas to make snack runs, it is bad enough we pay them to sleep.”

Mayor Leopald, a retired Army logistics officer who served a tour in Iraq in the 1990s gulf war and two tours in Afghanistan in the early 2000s, came up with an idea. The city will supply the three meals a day to firefighters via Meals Ready to Eat (MRE). With his former military contacts the Mayor was able to get amazing pricing to buy MREs in massive bulk.

When the mayor approached the city council with the idea they were in favor. With the firefights no longer cooking, both gas and electrical bills would go down. In addition the city would not have to upkeep the kitchens in each of the stations.

One councilman is proposing to sell the professional grade kitchen equipment in each station. The re-sale value on the Viking stoves and Sub Zero refrigeration units is very high.

Firefighters are apprehensive about the change. None were willing to talk to us fearing reprisal from the city.