A stunning video posted on social media has sparked a major investigation at the San Jose Fire Department.
The video appears to show a woman in a very tiny bikini getting out of a fire truck with its sirens running and walking into the Pink Poodle, a San Jose strip club.
"The Department has become aware of a concerning video posted on social media," San Jose Fire Department Chief Robert Sapien Jr. said in a statement Friday. "An investigation has been initiated to determine facts surrounding the video."
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
If the internal investigation finds that any fire department members engaged in inappropriate behavior, "appropriate steps will be taken to address the matter," the department stated.
There is no official explanation as to what was happening in the video. Business owners near the Pink Poodle have mixed reactions, but the common thread is shock.
Local merchants and residents said it is unusual to see fire trucks outside the Pink Poodle.
The firefighters union said it is aware of the situation and provided the following statement:
"This union does not condone what was seen on video. The fire department is handling and investigating. This does not represent values of San Jose firefighters Local 230."
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo issued the following statement: "If the investigation concludes that this video is as bad as it looks, then heads must roll. We cannot have a life-critical emergency rescue apparatus relegated to a frat party bus, nor tolerate any conduct that so demeans the heroic work of the rest of our SJFD team. I trust that Chief Robert Sapien, as one of our nation's finest fire chiefs, will respond accordingly."
Richard Santos, a retired San Jose Fire Department captain, called said the incident is "sad" and "doesn't reflect the entire department."
"When you see something like that, yes it bothers me because we have our tax payers, residents, children, everyone else who counts on the fire department," Santos said. "And when you see something like that it's painful. I hope there's some explanation."
