Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
A fire brigade chief has been suspended after images of a scantily-clad model posing at the station were shared online.
The racy photoshoot took place at the H. Fire Department in the municipality of Benito Juarez in the south-eastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
According to the newspaper Excelsior, the director of the fire station, Thomas Hurtado Morris, has been dismissed pending an investigation.
The images show model Catalina Gallardo posing in a black bikini and firefighting gear in front of a fire engine.
The model reportedly shared the footage on the social media page ‘Abstract Focus’.
The general secretary of the city council, Flor Ruiz Cosio, stated that the use of Fire Department facilities for these purposes is not allowed.
She said: “The council of Benito Juarez is clear on the fact that the private use of fire fighting installations cannot be used for these means when even a couple of minutes of distraction can make a difference when saving lives.”
Cosio said the facilities are for official use only and not to carry out actions that objectify women and “erode their empowerment in society”.
As the fire official in charge of the facilities, Morris was reportedly removed from his position while an investigation is being carried out.
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