Karen E. Bowes’ article of Aug. 23 (“DWI fireman suspended”) stated Wayne Lawson, a Keyport firefighter, was charged driving while intoxicated on his way home from putting out the fire at the Keyport Fishery restaurant in town. Mr. Lawson – who has served as a volunteer firefighter in Keyport – was called upon to help extinguish a major and seriously dangerous blaze, as he has apparently been doing for our town for some time.
The fact that firefighters are called upon at any time of the day or night implies they must be fit to perform their duties whenever on call. I find a glaring lack of safety procedure in that no one at the firehouse could ascertain if all in the company were fit for duty. Although firefighters should be responsible for their own condition of fitness while on duty, the special nature of their 24/7 responsibilities and their extreme commitment to helping residents may make it difficult for them to evaluate themselves in the throes of such emergencies.
I suggest our fire departments be furnished with adequate sobriety testing equipment and also that our fire chiefs be trained in recognizing drowsy or impaired symptoms for on duty personnel. Driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated is a dangerous activity and all motorists should be operating vehicles in a sober, well rested condition. But I am very disappointed a brave firefighter – who continually risks his health and safety for Keyport residents – was not somehow prevented from this situation.
Larry Jones
Keyport