Fire engine used in wedding celebration

NEWAYGO, Mich. (WOOD) - Surveillance video shows a Newaygo Fire engine pulling up to the Grant Community Center with its lights flashing to tote a bride to her wedding reception.

Target 8 obtained the video after getting a tip via ReportIt.

Newaygo Fire Department Assistant Chief Josh Mausolf wouldn't talk to Target 8 on camera, but did say over the phone that two of the department's own got married on Aug. 18 and the department helped them celebrate.

In fact, he said the department allows each member two personal uses of a fire engine.

Mausolf said that municipalities -- and therefore taxpayers -- pay for the fire trucks and their maintenance.

Taxpayer Larry Palmer shook his head.

"It's fun, but I don't think it's real appropriate," he said. "Those vehicles have a right associated with them as far as dollars per hour, dollars per minute. That should not be paid with taxpayer dollars."

"I think it's kind of like stealing money from the County because it's not your personal vehicle," agreed Lorraine Stilson, another taxpayer.

Plainfield Assistant Fire Chief Steve McKellar offered some perspective. His department won't let firefighters take the engines for personal use.

"It's taking it out of service. It's taking it out of where people expect it to be," McKellar said. "People want to know where the trucks are."

The route the wedding party took in the fire truck was about five and a half miles out of jurisdiction and, some say, not on their dime.

"How would it look if I just took $100 out and went somewhere and said, 'I work there!' It's still taking money that isn't yours. If it's there for the fire department, it's for the fire department, not for personal use," said Lorraine Stilson.

The Newaygo Fire Department doesn't have a policy on when or how to use the sirens.

Mausolf said they usually sound the sirens briefly as they enter a venue to let everyone know the wedding party has arrived.  

Since Target 8 first contacted him, Mausolf said his department is now investigating and reviewing the use of the fire engine in the recent wedding and couldn't comment further.