California wildfires: Cleanup workers fired after posting ‘abhorrent’ photos from Paradise
Nearly all of the town of Paradise was destroyed by the Camp Fire last month
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Three California workers have been fired after posing for “abhorrent” photos amid the destruction left behind by last month’s deadly Camp Fire.
Bigge Crane and Rigging Co worker Rob Freestone posted photos of himself and others on Facebook from the cleanup efforts in the town of Paradise, which was destroyed last month when flames scorched through the area.
Mr Freestone was fired alongside two others for the photos, according to a posting from the company over the weekend.
“We have identified three participants in this abhorrent event and their employment has been terminated. Bigge expects its employees and contractors to work with the utmost integrity and professionalism,” the company wrote on Facebook.
The statement continued: “The behaviour of these individuals is not consistent with our company values and ethical code. Bigge regrets that the residents of Paradise and Butte County have suffered an egregious insult during an already devastating time at the hands of these three individuals. Bigge supports and appreciates all our surrounding communities”.
The photos show the workers making light of the devastation in Paradise, including one image where two workers are seated smiling in a burnt out motorhome with a joking caption.
“They’re off on a fun filled vacation to unknown destinations in their new RV,” the caption reads.
Another photo shows a worker jumping in the wreckage of a trampoline.
“Trampolines are stupid,” the post says. “[By the way] it used to be called a Jumpoline until your mom got on it”.
Yet another photo shows what appears to be the remains of a house cat with a beer placed near its mouth.
California wildfires: thousands flee homes after devastating blaze
Show all 15“Dude... I was just chilling with my homies, having a couple of cold ones, and BAM... damn fire breaks out”, the post reads.
The camp fire broke out in early November and burned for 17 days, killing 86 people in its path. That includes 38 deaths in the City of Paradise.
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