Fire union files grievance with police union over cop using fire extinguishers

Police officers from Junctio PD responded last week to a car fire. Armed with fire extinguishers the police had the fire out before the arrival of firefighters. Now the local fire union is upset that Police took work away from the fire service.

This incident started when Mary Acer pulled into the local MacDonald’s drive though. Her car shut off, as she was about to pull forward from the order microphone to the payment window. After trying the key twice she stepped from her car.

An unidentified male in the parking lot offered to help. He asked her to pull the level to release the hood. He then opened the hood. Immediately smoke was visible which quickly turned to flame. Mary called 911.

Officer Ronald Ardens was less than a block away when the call came in.

“I pulled into the parking lot and grabbed the extinguisher out of my trunk. With the hood up I had a great shot at the fire, so I emptied the thing on it. About the time my extinguisher was empty, two employees came out each carrying one. One was kitchen foam extinguisher. I asked him to hand me that one and then filled the engine area with foam.”

Fire crews from Engine 13 arrived about the time the second extinguisher had gone empty. The guys from E13 found that the officer had completely put the fire out. There was nothing for them to do on the scene, but clean up and contact the city fire Marshal to investigate.

A statement form the local Union says that Officer Ardens took work away from the E13 crew. It further calls for the removal of fire extinguishers from police officer squad cars.

The police union has yet to respond to the threats.

Requests for interviews from both unions were denied.