The naked and the suspended: Update on nude cook at DC firehouse.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: On Friday 10-15, DC Fire & EMS now says Chief Rubin misspoke and the firefighter is not on enforced leave
Previous coverage of this story
WTOP Radio's Neal Augenstein has an update on the off-duty DC firefighter who had his picture taken while he was cooking in the nude at the quarters of Engine 11. DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin told Augenstein this incident occurred after several off-duty firefighters went to nearby bars following a retirement party at the firehouse on July 7 and then returned to the station for breakfast. Here are excerpts from WTOP's report:
A firefighter photographed cooking eggs naked after a retirement party in a D.C. firehouse has been suspended without pay and is now the subject of a new investigation, WTOP has learned.
"I'm sad to report that the scope of the investigation has broadened significantly," D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said during an exclusive interview in his office.
"The firefighter has been placed on enforced leave — leave without pay."
"The case is substantive against the individual," Rubin says.
Bill Miller, spokesman for the District's U.S. Attorney's Office, declined to discuss whether the case has been referred to prosecutors.
Rubin tells WTOP the internal investigation determined there were no female employees or attendees, but the firefighter's nudity in a common area merited suspension.
