Some South Jersey Firefighters In Hot Water After 'Cold Water Challenge' Video
WASHINGTON Twp., N.J., (CBS) -- Some South Jersey firefighters found themselves in hot water after they are caught on tape using cold water in a stunt.
The video has gone viral and it shows a man hit with a fire hose line and knocked to the ground.
That man, Eyewitness News has learned, is a fireman who at the time was on duty with the Washington Township Fire Department in Gloucester County.
Washington Township Fire Chief John Hoffman said, "I was disappointed that our guys went to that level to do this activity."
The activity the chief is referring to is what's known as the "Cold Water Challenge".
It's a phenomenon spreading online, picked up by firefighters across the country in variations. Bottom line, take the "challenge" or donate to a charity or do both.
The idea began last month as a fundraiser for a six-month-old cancer patient in Missouri.
"A cold water challenge, that's within reason and with some range of safety to it is well within the scope of what our department is about. This just went a little overboard," Hoffman said.
The chief went onto explain it happened over the weekend of May 17th. We're told the use of the equipment was not approved and because the behavior has been deemed inappropriate, six members of the department will be disciplined.
We shared the video with some Washington Township residents. Their reaction was mixed but the chief says, rules are rules.
"It could be anything from a reprimand to dismissal and anything in between," Hoffman said.
