PULLMAN, Wash. — The City of Pullman has been fined $2,700 for violations stemming from its rescue efforts during the city's historic April flood.
The fire department rescued 22 people, including an infant, during the flooding, according to Pullman Mayor and Fire Department spokesman Glenn Johnson.
The fines stem from safety violations while crews used a front-end loader to rescue people.
Apparently, the state bureaucrats feel it would have been better to just let the folks drown.
The first violation occurred when the fire department used a front-end loader carrying three firefighters at four different locations during the flood. The second fine came from allowing firefighters wearing their gear to be unsecured in the bucket of the front-end loader without personal flotation devices or a helmet appropriate for water rescues. The last fine was due to the city not providing and requiring "the use of appropriate safety devices and safeguards, including allowing an employee to ride unsecured" in the front-end loader.
There were no injuries during the rescue operations.
Not that it matters.
"Emergency situation, my foot! We got rules here, buddy. You follow them or else!"
