DARBY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A fire company is closed and not allowed to take calls after a recording of firefighters making racist comments came to light.
The Briarcliffe Fire Company Station 75 in Darby Township, Pennsylvania, was ordered to close hours after county officials were made aware of the allegations, and it will stay closed until the district attorney finishes an investigation, KYW-TV reported.
Firefighters with the department were on a call to discuss consolidating services with several other departments, and when most of the people got off the call, members of the Briarcliffe Fire Company allegedly stayed on and had a discussion that used several racial slurs and included disparaging remarks about people who live in the area, WPVI reported. The call allegedly went on for an hour and 45 minutes, WTXF reported.
The Briarcliffe Fire Company firefighters on the call did not realize that others from the Goodwill Fire Company were on the line, WPVI reported. “Those things they said were very discriminatory in nature, and that’s not what we stand for,” Deputy Chief Tim Eichelman of the Goodwill Fire Company told WPVI.
After the call, Goodwill Fire Company sent a letter to Delaware County officials, saying the Briarcliffe Fire Company firefighters used racial slurs, mentioned arson, and even seemed to joke about Fanta Bility, an 8-year-old girl who was killed by police, KYW-TV reported.
Fanta Bility’s family shared a statement that said, in part, “To speak of her with such disrespect, shines the light of shame on those people at the firehouse making the remarks, and reflects negatively on those good and true first responders who pledge their lives to the service of all members of the community,” WTXF reported.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is investigating the incident, KYW-TV reported.
“The township, as I indicated, with unanimity is committed to making sure that this does not happen and this does not continue and that those responsible will face whatever consequences they have,” Darby Township Solicitor Michael Pierce told KYW-TV.
While the firehouse is closed, a shared service agreement in place with other nearby fire departments will ensure emergency calls are answered, KYW-TV reported.
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