Firefighter Slapped for Stopping Divvy Bicyclist from Riding into Fire Truck's Path

Chicago, IL — Chicago firefighters are always looking out for your safety, often putting themselves at risk of life and limb. Dashing into burning buildings to save lives, cutting through twisted automobile wreckage to free the critically wounded — even stopping the wayward bicyclist from wheeling into the back of a fire engine.

They don't often get slapped in the face for their efforts.

A firefighter in the Loop took an open hand across the face on Monday, however, according to Cook County prosecutors, when he tried to stop a Frankfort woman on a Divvy bike from riding into the path of a fire truck with its flashing lights on as the driver backed into the fire station.

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The firefighter was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a cut to his face, reports DNAinfo Chicago, covering Kurtz's appearance before a judge on Wednesday.

"I do not take lightly the fact that an officer tells someone to stay out of the way, and the response is to get slapped in the face," Judge Peggy Chiampas told the woman.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Kurtz works downtown in catering at a prestigious hotel and resides in south suburban Frankfort.

The Chicago Fire Department took to Twitter Thursday morning to make clear that no matter how hot under the collar one may get, slapping a fireman will not end well for you.