Facing action: Stevie Logan A fireman who saved a pet dog from a frozen pond is now facing disciplinary action for allegedly breaching healthy and safety rules.
Stevie Logan rescued a cocker spaniel called Matt who ran on to ice and then become trapped in the water.
The 42-year-old jumped into a nearby canoe and paddled out to the distressed animal, encouraging it to swim towards a ladder other firemen had laid across the ice.
After the successful rescue, Mr Logan was hailed a hero by Matt's owner.
His bosses however have ordered an investigation into his conduct, saying that Mr Logan - who is commander at Kilmarnock Fire Station - broke force guidelines by putting himself unnecessarily at risk when he paddled out to the stranded pet.
Last night, Sheila Johnstone said the decision by Stathclyde Fire and Rescue chiefs to investigate the incident in which her dog was rescued beggared belief.
Miss Johnstone, 78, of Kilmarnock, said: ‘I have never heard such nonsense in all my life.
‘He went out to rescue my dog and I take my hat off to him.
‘Matt is fine now, but he wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the firemen saving his life and I am very grateful.
Rescue mission: Stevie Logan, third on right, leads his fire crew to help save a dog which had fallen into a pond after running off on to the ice‘I think they should definitely reconsider this as I think it is a piece of nonsense.
‘Carrying out rescues is what firemen are on the job for. What are they supposed to do the next time there is a fire? Stand by and watch?’
The rescue took place at Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, at the end of December, on one of the coldest days of winter.
Matt was being walked by one of Miss Johnstone's neighbours when he ran off.
After the neighbour called 999, a fire crew from Kilmarnock was rushed to the scene and was soon joined by another crew from Ayr who had specialist rescue equipment.
In total, 17 firefighters attended the scene.
But Matt was rescued by Mr Logan and was then hauled on to a inflatable walkway and taken to shore to be reunited with his owner.
Last night, a friend of Mr Logan said: ‘He is facing the high jump for doing what any firefighter would do to rescue an animal in distress.
‘Bosses are claiming he broke the rules because he jumped into a canoe and used his initiative.
‘They are claiming that because he was in charge he shouldn't have risked his own safety or that of his men.
‘It beggars the question what if we were talking about a kid and not a dog?’
However, a fire brigade source said Mr Logan was risking the lives of his own men by ignoring important safety procedures.
He said: ‘There were a number of rescues carried out to save pets that had fallen into water during the cold snap.
‘When the ops director saw there had been three or four carried out, he issued guidance warning that firemen should not be unnecessarily risking their lives by going on to the ice without the proper equipment.
‘He didn’t want staff risking their lives because dog owners are not keeping their dogs on a leash.
‘By all accounts the staff on the scene were trying to help from the sidelines.
‘This is when the station commander, ignoring the warnings from other firefighters, commandeered a canoe from somewhere and went out to try and save the dog.
‘Despite the guidance he said he was the boss and that he was going to have a crack at it.
‘It worked out OK this time, but if it hadn’t worked out and the canoe had capsized other firefighters would have had to go in and try and rescue him and it could have been a tragedy.
‘The bosses aren’t looking to hang the guy out to dry or anything like that, but because he ignored procedures it has been decided something has to be done about it.’
A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokesman said: ‘An investigation is taking place.’
source: dailymail
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