‘Shut the F–k Up’: Long Island Fire Chief Caught Cursing at 10-Year-Old Girl During Emergency Call

The sky over West Babylon was still light when help arrived — flashing red lights bouncing off quiet houses, sirens slicing through the summer dusk. But what was meant to be a call for aid ended in shock, when a fire chief’s words — not his actions — became the emergency.

A disturbing video, now viral on TikTok, shows longtime North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt shouting profanities at a 10-year-old girl as she was strapped to a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance Monday night. The footage, captured by a concerned neighbor, has prompted public outrage, internal investigations, and a swift suspension of Alt’s duties.

“Shut the f–k up! It’s like this with you every f–king week!” Alt yells in the video, as the distressed child cries out, “I don’t want to go! I want to go home!”

“Shut your mouth!” Alt snaps back, moments before the ambulance doors close.

The incident unfolded in a quiet West Babylon neighborhood after the girl’s mother called emergency services to help calm her daughter, who had become emotionally distressed after a phone was taken away, the child’s grandmother told NBC New York.

North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt was caught in a viral TikTok video showing him hurling obscenities at the child.

A Call for Help Turns Into a Public Crisis

Alt, a 22-year veteran of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, was among the first responders at the scene. According to neighbors, what should have been a routine emotional support call quickly escalated when the fire chief began yelling at the child, seemingly losing his composure in front of other responders and nearby residents.

The fire company issued a statement Tuesday confirming that Alt has been relieved of duty while a formal investigation is conducted.

“The fire company does not condone this behavior and deems it unacceptable,” the statement read. “We are reviewing all training, policies, and procedures to determine what changes may be needed going forward.”

The North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company has stripped Alt of his duties pending an investigation.

Family, Neighbors Outraged

The child’s grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was “shocked and devastated” by the chief’s behavior.

“Maybe it was a blessing I wasn’t there,” she said. “Because I would have jumped all over this guy.”

“When you call for help — the police, the fire department — they’re supposed to help you. Not treat you like garbage. And curse at a child at that.”

She noted that the family has called emergency responders before for similar episodes involving the child, but said this was the first time anyone had treated her granddaughter with such hostility.

Neighbor Mark Simms, who lives across the street, described the situation as “completely unprofessional.”

“I wouldn’t want him to speak to my kids like that,” he said. “It was disturbing. The police have been out here a few times this summer, but never anything like this.”

Officials and Community Condemn Response

The Town of Babylon released a strongly worded statement Tuesday condemning Alt’s actions.

“The use of demeaning and inappropriate language by a first responder during an aided call is appalling and completely at odds with the standards of dignity, respect, and professionalism our residents deserve,” the town wrote on Facebook.

The statement added that it expects a “full and transparent review” of the incident and that “meaningful steps” must be taken to prevent similar events in the future.

“There is no place in our town for behavior that disrespects or harms the public — especially when it involves a young person or child.”

Alt, a 22-year veteran of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, was one of the first responders on the call Monday night in West Babylon after the girl’s family called for help to calm the child down.

Questions Remain

As the video continues to circulate online — with more than a million views in 24 hours — public calls have grown louder not just for Alt’s accountability, but for those of the responders who stood by and allowed the interaction to unfold.

Many commenters on social media have demanded disciplinary action for those who remained silent during the incident, raising broader concerns about training, oversight, and culture within volunteer emergency services.

Neither Alt nor representatives for the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company responded to requests for comment from The Post.

For the family at the center of the storm, however, the damage has already been done.