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Wichita FF's getting "heat" from "Tonight Show" stunt
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Three Wichita firefighters have caused a
stir within the department after a stunt on a national late-night
talk show in which one set his chest hair on fire.
Now, their actions are under review.
Even the local firefighters union president calls the July 10
gag, performed before millions of late-night viewers of "The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno", an "irresponsible act" because it
contradicts what firefighters preach.
"We don't encourage our kids to do dangerous stunts," said
Wichita fire Capt. Doug Pickard, president of the International
Association of Firefighters, Local 135. "What kind of message did
we send them?"
On Friday, one of the firefighters defended the stunt. Lt. Mike
Corns said because it was a late-night show, the firefighters
thought children wouldn't see the skit.
Corns said they took precautions on stage and followed local
fire regulations. They also tried to represent themselves only as
private citizens, not members of the Fire Department.
"It's supposed to be three crazy guys to entertain people," he
said. All three were off-duty.
Leno introduced the stunt with the warning: "Remember, don't
try this at home." Then firefighter Lloyd Cox ignited the hairiest
part of his chest with a wand-type lighter. The hair flamed for a
few seconds, then he patted it out. At the same time, Corns and
firefighter Dave Shonka shot their fire extinguishers at him.
Shonka declined to comment, and Cox could not be reached.
The Wichita Fire Department is reviewing the incident, Chief
Larry Garcia said Friday. But he would not discuss any possible
discipline against the firefighters.
Garcia did not mince words about the stunt, calling it
"idiotic, at the very best." He viewed a tape of the episode
after it aired.
Garcia also accused Leno, the host of the late-night talk show,
of poor judgment for allowing such a skit. A spokeswoman for Leno's
publicist declined comment.
Corns said he and the other two firefighters did not want to
present themselves as firefighters while on the show, only as
entertainers, he said. They even declined to wear firefighter
equipment, though urged to by the show's staff, Corns said.
But in light banter with Leno, Cox said he was a firefighter
from Wichita.
The three did take precautions, Corns said.
Cox used a fire-retardant gel on part of his chest. Although the
two firefighters shot the fire extinguishers, "it was more for
show" than necessity, Corns said. He said Cox wasn't injured.
Corns defended the firefighters' reputations.
"They've saved people's lives, and they've put out extremely
difficult fires."
The three friends traveled to Los Angeles at the show's expense,
Corns said.
Although disappointed with the stunt, Garcia also had some
praise for the three, saying they are among some of the
better-skilled firefighters in the department, especially because
of their paramedic training.
The stunt should not reflect on the Fire Department, but the
department suffers some because the three are members, Garcia said.
"They brought shame to themselves, and we're included in
that."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
stir within the department after a stunt on a national late-night
talk show in which one set his chest hair on fire.
Now, their actions are under review.
Even the local firefighters union president calls the July 10
gag, performed before millions of late-night viewers of "The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno", an "irresponsible act" because it
contradicts what firefighters preach.
"We don't encourage our kids to do dangerous stunts," said
Wichita fire Capt. Doug Pickard, president of the International
Association of Firefighters, Local 135. "What kind of message did
we send them?"
On Friday, one of the firefighters defended the stunt. Lt. Mike
Corns said because it was a late-night show, the firefighters
thought children wouldn't see the skit.
Corns said they took precautions on stage and followed local
fire regulations. They also tried to represent themselves only as
private citizens, not members of the Fire Department.
"It's supposed to be three crazy guys to entertain people," he
said. All three were off-duty.
Leno introduced the stunt with the warning: "Remember, don't
try this at home." Then firefighter Lloyd Cox ignited the hairiest
part of his chest with a wand-type lighter. The hair flamed for a
few seconds, then he patted it out. At the same time, Corns and
firefighter Dave Shonka shot their fire extinguishers at him.
Shonka declined to comment, and Cox could not be reached.
The Wichita Fire Department is reviewing the incident, Chief
Larry Garcia said Friday. But he would not discuss any possible
discipline against the firefighters.
Garcia did not mince words about the stunt, calling it
"idiotic, at the very best." He viewed a tape of the episode
after it aired.
Garcia also accused Leno, the host of the late-night talk show,
of poor judgment for allowing such a skit. A spokeswoman for Leno's
publicist declined comment.
Corns said he and the other two firefighters did not want to
present themselves as firefighters while on the show, only as
entertainers, he said. They even declined to wear firefighter
equipment, though urged to by the show's staff, Corns said.
But in light banter with Leno, Cox said he was a firefighter
from Wichita.
The three did take precautions, Corns said.
Cox used a fire-retardant gel on part of his chest. Although the
two firefighters shot the fire extinguishers, "it was more for
show" than necessity, Corns said. He said Cox wasn't injured.
Corns defended the firefighters' reputations.
"They've saved people's lives, and they've put out extremely
difficult fires."
The three friends traveled to Los Angeles at the show's expense,
Corns said.
Although disappointed with the stunt, Garcia also had some
praise for the three, saying they are among some of the
better-skilled firefighters in the department, especially because
of their paramedic training.
The stunt should not reflect on the Fire Department, but the
department suffers some because the three are members, Garcia said.
"They brought shame to themselves, and we're included in
that."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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