A 17-year-old girl was dragged from a fire truck, pushed on to the ground and held down by middle-aged men under the vehicle’s mist sprays in a frightening CFA hazing.
CFA chief executive Frances Diver confirmed four members of the Eaglehawk brigade near Bendigo have been stood down over the attack and it has been referred to Victoria Police.
‘That footage shows a young girl, a 17-year-old girl, getting out of a truck with a group of men, mostly middle-aged men,’ Ms Diver told 3AW on Wednesday.
‘They engage in physical behaviour with the woman, dragging her across the floor, pushing her over, holding her down and harming her. They did wet her with the fine spray of a truck.’
A 17-year-old female volunteer at Eaglehawk fire brigade was ‘brutalised’ in what appeared to be a hazing ritual by adult volunteers
Ms Diver said she was ‘sickened’ by the footage and has been in touch with the girl and her family, who do not want to take it further.
‘She’s a young girl, she lives in a small town, it would be humiliating,’ Ms Diver said.
But she referred the matter to police because she believed what she saw could constitute a criminal offence.
‘We will undertake an independent investigation to determine exactly what is going on in that brigade that allowed that behaviour to continue,’ she said.
‘One of the most disturbing parts of the footage is that not only did one or two individuals engage in that behaviour, but a group of people stood by and watched.’
Four members who were immediately identified have been suspended and others are being questioned.
CCTV footage showed the girl being dragged around by her hair, pushed to the ground and sprayed with a fire hose
A spokesperson for CFA told Daily Mail Australia the four suspended members were volunteers, and would remain off duty pending a full investigation.
‘CFA leadership was recently advised of an incident that occurred at the Eaglehawk Brigade on November 27,’ they said.
‘Since being notified, we have taken immediate steps to deal with this issue, including standing down those allegedly involved in the incident, including the captain of the brigade.
‘CFA will also be reviewing the incident with the intention of addressing any underlying cultural issues in this brigade.
‘CFA is adamant that it will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour, we are committed to making the organisation more inclusive. Any behaviour that is not consistent with our values and doesn’t meet reasonable community standards will not be accepted within the organisation.’
A full investigation has been launched by CFA, but the young girl does not appear to be pressing charges and police have closed their investigation (stock image)
‘I am horrified at the idea that a young girl has been brutalised in that way,’ Ms Diver said.
‘I’ve got parents that are sending their kids into junior brigades… and I need to provide some assurance to those parents that we are taking this seriously.’
Emergency Service Minister James Merlino said the government was trying to reform the firefighting services to stamp out cultural and diversity issues.
‘This behaviour is appalling and is clearly not in line with community expectations,’ he said in a statement.
‘It is being immediately investigated as is appropriate. As minister for Emergency Services and as a parent, I am disgusted that a 17-year-old girl has been treated in this way.’
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia there was no criminal act in the video.
‘Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit detectives have been made aware of some footage taken at an Eaglehawk Fire Station on 27 November,’ she said.
‘Victoria Police has investigated the matter. No formal complaint has been made and no offence has been detected.
‘The matter is now complete.’