Pritchard claims she was singled out for gender and social media use
FirefighterNation Staff
EAST KALISPELL, Montana — A Montana part-time firefighter/paramedic has filed a wrongful termination claim with her fire department alleging that she was fired because of her gender and was singled out over her social media use.
Presley Pritchard, 27, formerly with Evergreen Fire Rescue, also says in her complaint to the Montana Human Rights Bureau that she suffered several instances of sexual harassment during her nearly three-year career with Evergreen.
The Daily Inter Lake reports that Pritchard is also seeking compensation for lost wages, time, money and emotional stress that led to seeking medical attention.
Evergreen Fire Rescue had issued verbal and written warnings to Pritchard stating she was using taxpayer resources for her own benefit by posting a photo taken at an accident scene, as well as refusing to remove social media posts depicting Evergreen Fire Rescue equipment and resources.
The department also alleged Pritchard violated a second policy that forbids employees from using Evergreen facilities for personal gain.
That warning alleges she took promotional photos at the fire department that were later used to sell t-shirts.
There was no social media policy at the time when Pritchard was given these warnings.
Pritchard is also a personal trainer and posts photos and videos of herself working out in a gym, as well as doing other activities, on Instagram. These photos raised concern in 2018 when a fire district board member was emailed by a “concerned taxpayer” about Pritchard’s Instagram content.
Pritchard’s content consisted mostly of herself in fire and EMS gear, along with other photos and videos in workout clothes and swimsuits.
Most of her content was also paired with inspirational and encouraging messages.
She earned money for specific social media posts where she is shown with a supplement or wearing sponsor apparel. Pritchard provided letters from sponsors indicating that she never received compensation for her firefighting posts but only those that contained a sponsor’s product.
The department warned Pritchard that she would face termination within five days if she did not remove all Evergreen Fire Rescue content from her personal social media pages. She was also demoted from seasonal part-time to part-time as-needed.
Pritchard took a five-week medical leave for surgery and returned to work on August 15, 2019 when she was terminated the same day because she failed to take down the social media content.
Connecting the social media posts and the taxpayer letter, Evergreen Fire District Board Member Jack Fallon told Daily Inter Lake that there was concern that Pritchard’s Instagram content could impact the passage of a levy for new equipment, better wages, and benefits.
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Pritchard defended herself in a July board meeting saying that she was being subjected to sexual discrimination for her posts while social media content from male members of the department was not.
She alleged that other members of the department have posted questionable content without recourse. She highlighted one fire department employee who alluded to acts of violence as a solution to immigration issues.
Pritchard went on to highlight other members using department facilities for their own personal gain such as working on their personal vehicles, with no recourse.
Pritchard’s attorney wrote in a December email that now that the complaint has been filed, a state investigator will be assigned to Pritchard’s case to review evidence and speak with “all witnesses and the parties.”
