Three Wichita firefighters have come under review for a stunt on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in which one set his chest hair on fire.
Even the local firefighters union president calls the July 10 gag, performed before millions of late-night viewers, an "irresponsible act" because it contradicts what firefighters preach.
"We don't encourage our kids to do dangerous stunts," said Wichita fire Capt. Doug Pickard, president of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 135. "What kind of message did we send them?"
On Friday, one of the firefighters defended the stunt. Lt. Mike Corns said because it was a late-night show, the firefighters thought children wouldn't see the skit.
Corns said the firefighters took precautions on stage, following local fire regulations. They also tried to represent themselves only as private citizens, not members of the Fire Department.
"It's supposed to be three crazy guys to entertain people," he said. All three were off-duty.
Leno introduced the stunt with the warning: "Remember, don't try this at home." Then firefighter Lloyd Cox ignited the hairiest part of his chest with a wand-type lighter. The hair flamed for a few seconds, then he patted it out. At the same time, Corns and firefighter Dave Shonka shot their fire extinguishers at him.
Shonka declined to comment, and Cox could not be reached.
Fire Chief Larry Garcia said Friday that the Fire Department was reviewing the incident, but he would not discuss any possible discipline against the firefighters.
Shonka and Cox work at Station 5, at Second and Hillside; Corns, who works at Station 15, at Lincoln and Rock Road, has been on leave with an injury.
Garcia did not mince words about the stunt, calling it "idiotic, at the very best." He viewed a tape of the episode after it aired.
Garcia also accused Leno, the host of the late-night talk show, of poor judgment for allowing such a skit. A spokeswoman for Leno's publicist declined comment.
Corns said he and the two other firefighters declined to wear firefighter equipment, though urged to by the show's staff. They did not want to present themselves as firefighters, he said, only as entertainers.
But in light banter with Leno, Cox said he was a firefighter from Wichita.
The three took precautions, Corns said.
Cox used a fire-retardant gel on part of his chest. Although the two firefighters shot the fire extinguishers, "it was more for show" than necessity, Corns said. He said Cox wasn't injured.
Corns defended the firefighters' reputations. "They've saved people's lives, and they've put out extremely difficult fires."
The three friends traveled to Los Angeles at the show's expense, Corns said.
Garcia, although disappointed with the stunt, also had some praise for the three, saying they are among some of the better-skilled firefighters in the department, especially because of their paramedic training.
Although the stunt should not reflect on the Fire Department, it suffers some because the three are members, Garcia said.
"They brought shame to themselves, and we're included in that."
