Should volunteer firefighters use the firehouse as their home?
The Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General says that the should not.
The JPOIG released the results of an investigation into the Lafitte-Barataria-Crown Point Volunteer Fire Company.
A news release says it revealed "a concerning and troubling practice and policy of individuals living and using fire stations, owned and/or supported with public funds, as their primary residence."
Authorities say an anonymous tip said that families, including adults and children, were living at the fire stations.
"The JPOIG investigation confirmed that LBCP VFC employees and/or volunteers were indeed living at these fire stations on a full-time basis. This was substantiated through examination."
The report finds some firefighters had officially claimed a fire station address as their permanent residence, and one individual even registering the station as a business address with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
"While the JPOIG was unable to confirm the presence of children living at the fire stations, the implications of full-time residence at these locations have raised serious concerns."
The report includes a response from Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng.
"The Parish President, responded to the JPOIG investigative report that 'full time residency comports with the LBCP obligations' under its contract with the Parish," the report noted.
The OIG says, however, that the additional cost associated with people living full time at the firehouse is not included in the documents.
"Neither LBCP VFC’s contract with the Parish nor the dedicated tax revenue intended for fire prevention and suppression services allows for or anticipates the expenditure of public resources to provide permanent housing to firefighters."
Sheng later told WWL's Newell Normand that the practice of firefighters making the firehouse their home will end.
"The chief admitted that that was certainly happening. I think some of them might have been a post-Ida issue, but I'm sure the practice is going to stop now."
