OLIVER, B.C. — Every member of the Oliver, B.C., fire department has agreed to accept a two week suspension as punishment for the removal of six beer kegs from a burning hotel.
Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson confirms the suspensions will be served by each member of the volunteer fire department.
Some of Oliver’s nearly three dozen firefighters weren’t even in the southern Okanagan community when the May 23 blaze destroyed the Mesa Hotel.
But Hampson says all the members have agreed to the suspensions as payback for removal of the beer — and the tapping of at least two of the kegs at the local firehall.
Hampson says the suspensions will be served in rotation, to ensure the community has adequate fire protection.
The firefighters who removed the kegs later paid the hotel owners for the beer but RCMP are still investigating and have not yet said if charges are likely.