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Firefighter Accused of False Fire Alarms
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 12, 2008
Modified Dec 12, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 12, 2008
Modified Dec 12, 2008
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A Bronx firefighter has been arrested for making calls about non-existent fires, apparently in protest of FDNY budget cuts that will eliminate a night tour at his City Island firehouse. Nicholas Vrettos allegedly made a dozen calls about fires, including one in a school cafeteria, on December 4 (when the cuts were announced). Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said, "You're taking a unit away from what might be a real emergency where somebody is having a heart attack or there's a fire or any other life-threatening emergency and that's the danger and that's why this is a felony," but a City Island resident, who did not condone calling in false alarms, told NY1, "If it in any way illustrated our plight, it at least had that effect." Vrettos could face up to seven in prison.
Tagged
Budget cuts
city island
false alarms
fdny
fire department
Nicholas Vrettos
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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