Firefighters ordered to end 'physical interactions' after alleged assault

Six months after an alleged assault at an Ottawa fire station that resulted in criminal charges against a firefighter and a captain, Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) ordered all officers to clamp down on physical altercations between crew members.

The email, dated March 21, 2023, from Deputy Chief Dave Matschke to all captains and lieutenants across the service refers to an incident on Sept. 14, 2022, at Station 47 in Barrhaven that's now the subject of an ongoing criminal trial.

Former firefighter Eric Einagel is charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault by choking. Einagel was fired following an internal investigation. Capt. Greg Wright, who remains with OFS, is charged with threatening to discipline non-binary rookie firefighter Ash Weaver to prevent them from reporting the incident.

The alleged assault occurred as Einagel and Weaver jostled for the right to wash the dinner dishes. Court has heard junior firefighters would routinely engage in such physical contests over menial chores as a way of demonstrating their initiative.

During testimony, the tradition has been described as a "rite of passage," and Wright testified it was a daily occurrence at Station 47.

Fighting to 'cease immediately'

In the email, which was entered into evidence at the trial on Thursday, Matschke reminds officer that they have "a vital role to create a safe and respectful workplace environment" and "an obligation to prevent violence and harassment."

As part of the internal investigation into the incident at Station 47, "we were alarmed to learn that physical interactions, fighting, still occurs over who will do the dishes or complete chores," Matschke wrote.

"Physical interactions within the station will cease immediately."

Matschke goes on to ask officers to find other ways of determining who's responsible for mundane tasks, suggesting rotations, rolling dice or cutting a deck of cards.

"This safe environment must include identifying and eliminating inappropriate behaviours, physical interactions such as dish fights, races for the phone, or physical competitions for other duties," Matschke wrote.

"Additionally, things such as requiring probationary firefighters to be the last or the first for participation are no longer acceptable, unwelcomed comments or actions must be curbed as well as the elimination of all forms of hazing."

Matschke also reminds officers "that when things occur in stations that are clearly not following the policies, don't feel right or you have concerns over you must report them through the chain of command."

'Horseplay' still happening, captain says

Asked by his lawyer Thursday how he interpreted the email when he received it, Wright replied: "I interpret this as the chiefs trying to cover their butts."

Wright testified that he'd been the target of numerous fire hall pranks over the years, including having paper towels stuffed in his pockets and set alight.

"The horseplay and dark humour relieves a lot of the stress of the job," he said.

He also testified the roughhousing still goes on despite the directive from the deputy chief.

"The horseplay is still happening in general, I've heard," he said, though he added firefighters are "nervous to go to work, on pins and needles, afraid something is going to happen."

Earlier this week, Koert Winkel, who was an acting lieutenant at Station 47 in 2022, called the "jostling" that goes on between junior firefighters a "rite of passage" that helps build "esprit de corps" among the rank and file.

On Wednesday, CBC asked the City of Ottawa whether there's been any official policy change regarding physical contests among firefighters since the alleged assault.

In a brief response attributed to Chief Paul Hutt, the fire service declined to comment due to the ongoing criminal trial.

"OFS continues to follow the legal proceedings. We acknowledge that this is a difficult time for our members and the entire community. Our Service is committed to continue improving the culture within OFS and creating a workplace that is safe and welcoming to everyone," reads the response.