Firemen to appeal against sacking

Aug 9 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

TWO senior Black Country firefighters sacked after allegedly staging a spoof interview in which a young recruit was asked to ballet dance have lodged appeals.

Watch Commander Mark Smith and Crew Commander Lee Evans, both based at Brierley Hill fire station, made their appeals earlier this week after written confirmation of their dismissal from the West Midlands Fire Service.

Tony Nutting, regional secretary with the Fire Bigades Union, said today that the two men were hopeful their sackings would be overturned on appeal.

"We can confirm that both Watch Commander Smith and Crew Commander Evans have now lodged appeals. We expect their appeal hearings to be held towards the end of August.

"There will have to be face-to-face hearings with an Assistant Chief Fire Officer and no date has yet been fixed for the hearings," he added.

The Mail revealed last week that the two men had been sacked after a fireman dressed as a high-ranking officer and a DVD was made of the spoof interview, part of a practical joke on a young recruit.

A third firefighter from Brierley Hill escaped with a final written warning.

The three firefighters were suspended on May 31 and Mr Nutting said that the dismissals of two of them had caused a great deal of ill-feeling among colleagues, most of whom viewed the spoof interview and DVD as a harmless bit of fun.

Watch Commander Smith has 23 years service and Crew Commander Evans has nine years.

Mr Nutting said that the two men had been dismissed for breaching standing orders.

West Midlands Fire Service press officer Mike Fox said: "We cannot comment in any way on disciplinary matters."