Battle Heats Up Between FDNY, Bronx Volunteer Unit
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A battle seems to be brewing between the city fire department and a local volunteer force in the Bronx.
The Aviation Volunteer Fire Department has been operating since the early 1920s in the Bronx but their qualifications were called into question last week when they responded to a car accident.
1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports
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Commissioner Romeo Toro and Deputy Chief James Pointer were the first to respond to the scene of the accident last Thursday around 1:30 p.m. on the Bruckner Expressway.
While providing medical care to seven mentally disabled victims, the two volunteer firefighters claim they were detained by police at the scene for 25 minutes while officials investigated the validity of their credentials.
The FDNY said the firefighters with the department are not properly certified or trained.
Toro insists the department is legitimate and have been approved by the State Office of Fire Prevention And Control.
He is demanding an apology from the FDNY.
"This sort of behavior toward our city's volunteer personnel is not acceptable," Aviation Volunteer Fire Department Chaplain, the Reverend Marcos A. Miranda, said.
