Flap Over Engine Flag Is Putting Heat on South Florida Firefighters

As the nation cheers the heroism and tireless efforts of New York City’s firefighters, the conduct of two of their South Florida colleagues has stirred up a storm of criticism.

The two refused to ride an engine flying the American flag, said Jeff Hackman, a spokesman for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. When news got out about the incident, which Hackman said occurred Saturday, hundreds of angry people telephoned the city of OpaLocka, where the firefighters are stationed.

“Our switchboards have been crowded all morning,” City Manager Newall Daughtrey said. “I’m a Vietnam veteran, a former Marine, so clearly I support our country. We really hope they get this resolved.”

WIOD-AM, a local all-news radio station, identified the two firefighters as American Black Muslims. Hackman said that hadn’t been confirmed, and that he had received contradictory information. He refused to identify the men, but said they took umbrage to a U.S. flag put on their engine by colleagues from the previous shift.

“Initial reports are that they refused to ride the firetruck while the flag was there,” the spokesman said. “We’re trying to look into it and decide what to do.”

The two firefighters now are on scheduled vacations, Hackman said.

“The hurt and anger most people are feeling is the same as our firefighters are feeling,” Hackman said. “They’re calling us and saying: ‘Say it isn’t so.’ It’s hurtful and brings deep-seated anger to know that some of our brother firefighters would not be proud to serve under that flag.”

The Miami-Dade department employs 1,800 firefighters.

“We have 1,798 who are devoted to that flag,” Hackman said. Some of them now are in New York, assisting in relief and recovery efforts, he noted.

Since Saturday’s incident, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Director David Paulison has made it mandatory for county fire engines to display the American flag as an emblem of patriotism and a tribute to New York City brethren who perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center.