After getting blitzed at the local pub and on the way home to his house, this off duty FDNY firefighter hearing that there was a fire in a town 15 miles away decided that the local firefighting force was not up to the job and decided to take matters into his own hands. He breaks into the nearest fire house and steals their brand new pumper truck and proceeds to drive it to the fire with no lights on at all. On the way he gets on the radio and announces "This is Ray, I've got the Agua.... I'm on my way" like some possessed FDNY version of the Roaming Gnome from the travelocity commercials.

Exact Headlines are here below

"CLOSTER, N.J. A firefighter from Rockland County in New York was charged with DWI after he reportedly stole a fire truck and drove it to a fire in New Jersey.

Police say Raymond Oprey was determined to battle a blaze at a shopping center in Closter, N.J. So Oprey, who says he's a firefighter with an FDNY ladder company in the Bronx, allegedly stole a fire truck from the Rockleigh Fire Department near his home and headed to the scene, using the radio inside the truck several times.

According to Northvale Police Captain Vincent St. Angelo, "I believe he made three transmissions on his way down, as far as, 'I'm on the way' -- something to do with 'I have the agua.'"

The problem is that Rockleigh wasn't called for mutual aid, so police at the scene became suspicious, especially when he pulled up with the fire truck headlights off and right onto the grass.

"They detected an odor of alcoholic beverage, and just the way he was talking," said St. Angelo.

Oprey, 33, was taken into custody and this was the only explanation he gave to police.

"Basically, he said he wanted to help Closter. He wanted to know if they needed help," St. Angelo said.

The small town of Rockleigh only has two fire trucks. They are grateful that the truck was returned intact. "

Submitted on 04/30/2007

Submitted by: Shane M
Reference: http://wcco.com/topstories/topstories_story_265135428.html

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Even though there's not much in this story which could be construed as Darwinian (DWI is too common), it is an amusing story and the fact that you know this fellow allows me to sneak this one in through the back door as a PA (in which capacity I like it)! "New York's Bravest" generally do a bang-up job, but occasionally an "8-Ball" slips through the cracks, and they usually wind up making headline news! I wonder WHAT he was drinking! Thanks, Shane!

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Good story, Shane! It made me laugh.

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