Influencer's firefighter prank ends up getting burned by backlash

An online influencer recently sparked controversy by dressing up like a firefighter and claiming to be in a hurry while placing a restaurant order, which drew widespread backlash on the internet.

The Fire Services Department has reported the incident to the police and will fully cooperate with the investigation.

The local influencer, known for discussing current affairs, often dons unusual costumes and visits various districts to draw the attention of online users.

He uploaded a five-minute video on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday (Mar 5) and Saturday (Mar 8) respectively, with the title "Cheung Sha Wan firefighter challenge to rush the meal at Australia Dairy Company".

The video starts with the influencer dressed in firefighter look-a-like costumes, including a dark blue reflective vest and a yellow helmet, visiting a Jordan restaurant.

Upon arrival, he repeatedly stated that he was a firefighter and asked the waiter to serve the food quickly since he had to rush to Temple Street to put out a fire.

The clip quickly garnered nearly 60,000 views on the day of the release, igniting heated discussion online.

Numerous viewers expressed concerns regarding the influencer's portrayal of a firefighter, deeming it inappropriate. They said the influencer undermines the professional image of firefighters and misleads the public regarding the influencer's true identity.

Some internet users were surprised by the behavior of the influencer, emphasizing that even humorous content should adhere to professional boundaries. 

In response to the criticism, the influencer clarified that the characters depicted in the video were entirely fictional. Furthermore, on March 8, a disclaimer video was posted on Facebook, in which he indicated that he had acquired the costume online for the purpose of creating entertainment content.

According to a report from Sing Tao Headline, The Standard's sister publication, lawyer Chan Tsz-chin stated the influencer's action might violate the Summary Offences Ordinance, which states that falsely pretending to be or be able to influence a public officer may result in a HK$2,000 fine and six months imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Chan mentioned that wearing a firefighter costume to private parties rather than public ones would not violate the law.

In response to inquiries, the Fire Service Department confirmed knowledge of the video in which an individual claimed to be a firefighter and wearing a firefighter uniform.

The department clarified that the individual was not a member of the Fire Service Department and added that the costume was not their official uniform or equipment. 

Under Section 27(3) of Hong Kong's Fire Services Ordinance, anyone wearing their uniform without permission of the Director could face a level 4 fine (up to HK$27,000) and 6 months imprisonment.