Where’s the Fire?

This Sunday morning shortly after 8 a.m., as I was leaving Market Basket, I noticed that Salem Ambulance No. 4 was parking on the south side of the building.  Two uniformed fireman got out and sauntered into the store. 

Although I had seen this before, it piqued my curiosity what they could be buying at a grocery store that took two uniformed town employees to carry and could only fit in such a large vehicle. 

Perhaps they were buying something for the ambulance.  Maybe there is a good reason for it.  Maybe they were doing an inspection.  Maybe that is the most efficient way to handle the Fire Department’s business.

I know that government employees often do questionable things so as to avoid scrutiny.  For instance I have heard many times that Public Works employees eat lunch at the garage so as not to appear sloughing off out in the field.  That seems to me to be just as bad as actually sloughing off. 

Over many years I have asked such questions of the Salem Fire Department.  Usually I get the party line.  Many times there is a germ of truth to the response.  But it is seldom the whole truth in my view.