A female firefighter in New Taipei’s Banqiao District has filed a police report after being allegedly sexually harassed while on duty near Far Eastern Hospital, following a rescue operation involving a deployed inflatable safety cushion.
The incident took place on 9 May when firefighters were dispatched to a residential building after reports of a person possibly at risk on a rooftop. Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene and set up a rescue air cushion as a precaution while managing crowd control in the busy area.
During the operation, a female firefighter was tasked with deflating and packing up the large safety cushion after the situation was brought under control. While she was carrying out the physically demanding work, a man standing outside the cordoned-off area allegedly filmed her and made repeated inappropriate remarks, including sexual comments about her appearance.
The remarks were made loudly enough to be heard by nearby members of the public, sparking anger among witnesses. The man was also said to have been recording the firefighter while she was in a vulnerable working posture during cleanup duties.
The incident quickly spread online after being shared on social media, drawing widespread condemnation from netizens who described the behaviour as disrespectful and potentially amounting to sexual harassment. Many users urged authorities to take action and stressed that emergency personnel should be protected while performing their duties.
Police later confirmed that the firefighter has formally lodged a sexual harassment complaint at a local precinct, accompanied by her supervisors. Authorities have identified a suspect and said they are working to trace and summon him for questioning. The case has also been referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation and possible administrative action.
