SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Terminated Seattle firefighters turn in their boots
Oct 19, 2021, 3:18 PM | Updated: 10:30 pm
Seattle firefighters who lost their jobs over the COVID vaccine mandate dropped off their boots, said a prayer with their families, and cooked breakfast for the homeless in Occidental Park on Tuesday.
On Monday, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan had indicated that the Seattle Fire Department reported 91% of its employees vaccinated against COVID-19, and 6% were allowed a religious or medical exemption.
Seattle firefighter Andrew Pittman, who hasn’t been terminated, but doesn’t expect to be accommodated, was among those who left his boots and walked to the park. He told the Dori Monson Show he estimates about 100 firefighters will no longer work for the department, whether due to resignation, retirement, or termination.
“I just have strong moral and philosophical convictions against taking the shot,” Pittman told Dori of why he won’t get vaccinated. He added that COVID has run through his family, but the department won’t accept natural immunity.
Seattle Firefighter Mike Todd told the Dori Monson Show on Monday that he would be losing his job after 27 years.
“We are blessed that we are 100% united as a family,” Todd said of the conversations at home with his wife and nine children.
Meet the firefighter and deckhand who won’t get vaccinated
Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
