A volunteer fire chief in New York has been suspended following the release of a viral video showing him shouting profanities at a 10‑year‑old girl during an emergency response.
Peter Alt, head of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, is under investigation after footage posted on TikTok captured the exchange as the child was being loaded into an ambulance. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation from local officials, the fire service, and the public — as well as debate over the pressures faced by first responders.
What the Video Shows
The video, shared by user @chanzillaaa, depicts Alt telling the girl: 'Shut the f** up! It's like this with you every f**ing week!' The visibly distressed child responds, 'I don't want to go! I want to go home!' before Alt retorts, ' Shut your mouth!' Moments later, the ambulance doors close.
The TikTok user alleged that Alt continued verbally berating the child while colleagues looked on without intervening, calling the behaviour 'beyond unacceptable' and 'trauma' for a young person in crisis.
@chanzillaaa This is how North Babylon Fire Department talks to a 10-year-old little girl in crisis. She was scared, having a mental health emergency—and instead of compassion, she was berated, told shut the f*ck up you little b*tch by a grown man in uniform. Suffolk County Police stood by and did nothing. What you don’t see on video was even worse. The verbal abuse went on and on. This child was treated like she didn’t matter. This is beyond unacceptable. This is trauma. Children in crisis need care, not cruelty. We will not be silent. This cannot keep happening. #NorthBabylonFD #justice #MentalHealthMatters #ProtectChildren #TraumaIsReal
♬ original sound - Chanzillaaa
In the TikTok video, the user also claimed that the verbal abuse continued against the little girl, with Alt's companions not saying a word to either halt their chief or intervene.
'This is beyond unacceptable. This is trauma. Children in crisis need care, not cruelty. We will not be silent. This cannot keep happening,' the user said.
Alt has been reported to be a 22-year veteran at the fire volunteer group and is the current sitting chief, being assisted by assistant chiefs Michael Elco, Anthony DeAngelis, and Matthew Haggerty.
How Authorities Are Responding
In a recent statement from the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, it acknowledged the incident and stated that the person in question–albeit not specifying as Alt–has been relieved of all of his duties pending a complete and thorough investigation, whereupon appropriate action will be taken.
'The Fire Company is presently reviewing all of its training, policies and procedures and will determine if further training concerning responding to emergency calls is required. The Fire Company does not condone this behaviour and deems it unacceptable,' it stated.
Meanwhile, the official Facebook account for the town of Babylon posted its statement regarding the incident, calling it 'appalling' and 'completely at odds with the standards of dignity, respect, and professionalism [its] residents deserve.'
The Town of Babylon is deeply disturbed by the August 4, 2025 incident involving a member of the North Babylon Fire Company and a minor. The use of demeaning and inappropriate language by a first...
'There is no place in our town for behaviour that disrespects or harms the public—especially when it involves a young person or child. The Town of Babylon condemns this conduct in the strongest possible terms and stands with the affected family and all residents who rely on our emergency services in their times of need,' it stated.
They also stated that they are aware that Alt has been relieved of duty while a full investigation is underway, and that they expect a thorough and transparent review of the incident.
'We also expect meaningful steps to strengthen training, policies, and oversight to ensure this does not happen again,' they said.
A Recurring Incident? Defence For Chief Surfaces
Many have noted that the outburst of Alt can be rooted in recurring scenarios with the same child, with some netizens coming to the defence of the chief.
'It sounds like this is a regular occurrence. The crew know the girl and her family. She is mentally ill... If she isn't given or prescribed the right medication, which seems to be the case, she will be too much to handle for her own family, let alone emergency responders. Having been in a similar situation, it's a completely normal reaction to respond in a way that tries to bring the patient back into normal compliance,' one user commented on a recent coverage of the incident by NYPost.
Another user opined that the chief himself was setting limits in an 'unprofessional way' due to the numerous emergency calls in the past and sheer frustration with this child.
The onus in this situation rests with the parents not seeking help or having a plan in place when the child becomes difficult, making it more challenging to diffuse the situation. It shouldn't be the work of the EMS to the rescue as the disciplinary!', they remarked.
Meanwhile, a Facebook user noted that people are quick to rage at responders, highlighting a systemic problem in emergencies.
'People are quick to rage at responders, but when you're dealing with a child in an ongoing crisis daily, frustration builds. It doesn't excuse cruelty, but it does highlight a pattern being ignored. If we care about this child, the outrage should be directed equally at the lack of consistent supervision and the broken system—not just at the man caught on video,' they said.
'This Is Not The Way to Treat A Child!'
However, there are also numerous comments from online users who are calling out the 'rude' behaviour of the chief and suggesting that his colleagues must also be held accountable.
'He should be fired, not merely temporarily relieved of duty or "retrained"...I hope the Town of Babylon takes swift, appropriate action beyond simple "retraining." He knew this abusive behaviour was wrong when he perpetrated it, so retraining won't solve the problem,' one Facebook user commented on the official statement of Babylon regarding the incident.
Another user called out those netizens defending the chief, saying, 'To all of the people defending him. You don't get to abuse a kid and say it's a bad day. He has to control himself in his line of work.'
Codes of Standards for Firefighters
In the United States, firefighters are held to high standards of professional conduct and decorum, even amid high-stress emergencies. This is formally outlined in the National Firefighter Code of Ethics, developed by the US Fire Administration (USFA). This code emphasises values such as integrity, responsibility, fairness, and respect, and it underscores that fire service professionals must act in ways that uphold public trust both on and off duty.
Complementing this, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) offers a Fire Service Code of Ethics that emphasises professionalism, loyalty, and ethical leadership, particularly during times of crisis when public scrutiny is heightened.
At a broader level, national safety and training standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), especially NFPA 1500, play a key role in shaping firefighter behaviour. NFPA 1500 establishes minimum requirements for health, safety, training, and operational conduct, ensuring that firefighters remain calm, disciplined, and accountable during emergency operations.
Ultimately, adherence to these ethical codes and procedural standards is essential not only for effective emergency response but also for preserving the fire service's reputation as a disciplined, respectful, and community-focused institution.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Alt, who has served for 22 years alongside assistant chiefs Michael Elco, Anthony DeAngelis, and Matthew Haggerty, will remain suspended while the investigation proceeds. Town officials say they expect not only a thorough review of the incident but also reforms to prevent such conduct from recurring.
The case has reignited discussion over the balance between the pressures of emergency work and the duty of care owed to the public — especially children — in moments of crisis.
