Idiotic Radio Stunt Injures Firefighter
To most firefighters and police officers, this would be considered an arson fire. Charges need to be brought against this radio crew for their negligence and deliberate actions. If stupidity were a crime, many more people would be charged for these type of actions.
There is embed code available at the TV station web site, but it does not work with this post. See the link to follow the news report:
View the ABC Action News Report
From Tampa Area ABC Action News
TAMPA, FL -- A radio stunt did not go as planned Friday morning, leaving a firefighter injured.The MJ Morning Show on 93.3 WFLZ planned to demonstrate a turkey fryer fire in a plumbing van in the Clear Channel Radio parking lot and broadcast the event live online.
On-air talent Uncle Fester lit the fire, which became too large to put out with a fire extinguisher. (Watch the video below.)
The fire department was called to put out the blaze, and 26 year veteran firefighter Ken Licata injured his back trying to get the fire under control. Licata is expected to be okay.
According to Bill Wade with Tampa Fire Rescue, the radio station did not have a permit to set the van on fire and did not have an emergency crew standing by.
The MJ Morning Show website says that management has removed Uncle Fester from the morning show after the incident.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is assisting in the investigation. After the investigation is finished, the information will be passed on to the State Attorneys Office. The office will determine what should happen next. Intentionally setting a vehicle on fire is a second degree felony.
Watch the video below. The action starts at about the 12 minute mark.
In my opinion, these guys are acting completely foolish for the sake of listenership. This is one of the reasons I quit working in the radio business. It is one of the reasons I never listen to commercial radio anymore.
A friend recommends that everyone (including firefighters!) should call the station to voice their opinion: 210-832-3348.
And, by the way... is it possible that they could over-compress the mics any more than they did? The audio on that U-Stream video is simply ridiculous. The guy probably sounds like Minnie Mouse without the compression.
