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Mayor: Pittsburgh firefighter who OD'd on duty will not lose his job

PITTSBURGH — A firefighter who overdosed while on duty on New Year’s Eve will not lose his job, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told Target 11’s Rick Earle on Thursday.

He said the firefighter will get the help he needs and be given a second chance.

“(The firefighter) will be given the second chance, which is something we offer to all of our employees to try to help them get back and get their life back in gear,” the mayor said.

Peduto confirmed that a Pittsburgh firefighter overdosed on drugs while working New Year’s Eve at the Brookline station. He said Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, was used to revive the firefighter.

“I'm not sure on specifics of who it was who offered the first delivery of Narcan, but I can tell you that all of our public safety personnel will be carrying Narcan,” Peduto said.

A spokesman for the Allegheny County’s District Attorney's Office said the case was reviewed, and it was determined that it falls under the Good Samaritan Law.

“It's the policy of this office when using that law not to charge the victim of a non-fatal overdose and not to charge those who report the overdose - provided they stay with the victim until medical help arrives,” the spokesperson said.

Pittsburgh firefighters have been subjected to random drug testing since 2011. A failed test will result in suspension and counseling, while a second failed test results in termination.

Calls and emails to the firefighters union for comment were not returned as of Thursday afternoon.