No Fire Trucks Allowed at 9/11 Event

No fire engines will be allowed at a commercial event to commemorate 9/11 on Thursday.

Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie plans to give free sandwiches to police, firefighters and first responders on Thursday, the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, according to the Capital- Gazette. But while volunteer fire companies are supposed to be on site, hanging American flags from their fire engines, the trucks are actually not allowed to participate in the event.

The news outlet reports a 2013 ethics commission opinion says county fire engines cannot be used as promotional tools for private businesses -- in this case, Mission BBQ.

“Basically what they said was that county ethics law does not allow county apparatus to be used for the purpose of a private business,” Fire Chief Michael Cox told the newspaper. “This event -- even though it’s honoring veterans, police officers and firefighters for 9/11 -- it’s still a private business.”

The head of the county’s largest firefighters union calls the decision “absurd,” according to the Capital Gazette.

Each of Mission BBQ’s 10 locations will hold ceremonies at noon on Thursday, the news outlet reports.

>>> Read the full article at Capital Gazette.

Image from Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters website