Latham fire chief douses critics of firefighter service

The Latham Fire Department is roiling over allegations some firefighters routinely claim to respond to calls to get state pension credit when they no longer go to fires.

Firefighter Brian Carey set off the firestorm by posting a photo on Facebook showing the back of a man who appears to be signing paperwork.

"The availability of those members who are older or limited in their physical abilities to perform these functions provide value to the fire department and to the taxpayers," Roberts stated.

Under the law, fire departments can create a defined contribution benefit plan to provide a pension to volunteer firefighters, with contributions ranging from $120 to $700 a year.

Firefighters earn credit of at least $5 a month for each year of firefighting service completed after satisfying the program's eligibility requirement.

After a heated back-and-forth on Facebook last week between people complaining about older firefighters who "never got off their butts to come help" after a recent fire and others saying "nothing positive" would come from airing the concerns, Carey has since taken the post down.

According to the town budget, the Latham Fire Department by far has the most money set aside for the "Service Award Program" at $195,000.