New York- A Bronx fire station that proudly calls itself “Animal House” was at the center of a sex scandal yesterday as two firefighters were suspended – and 14 others reassigned – after a romp with a self-proclaimed firemen groupie, sources said.
The Staten Island woman initially reported she was raped, but later told police she’d had consensual sex with four firefighters inside Engine Co. 75/Ladder Co. 33 on Walton Avenue at around 2 a.m., sources said.
She also told cops she has had sex with 200 to 300 firefighters since 9/11 – and that she has herpes. She also suffers from bipolar disorder, sources said.
By yesterday afternoon, police had the firehouse roped off in yellow crime-scene tape as they probed the allegation – while fire officials suspended firefighters Christian Waugh, 31, and Tony Deluca, 34, both of Ladder 33.
Waugh’s father, also named Christian, was one of the firefighters who carried the body of FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge from the World Trade Center before its collapse.
FDNY officials also reassigned 11 other firefighters, one fire captain, a lieutenant and a battalion chief.
The department would not discuss the specific charges against Waugh and Deluca. Having sex in a firehouse, however, is against department policy.
According to the firefighters’ account, the married, 34-year-old Staten Island woman went to the fire station after a night of clubbing in New Jersey, a source said.
She got the invitation to the Bronx firehouse – which calls itself “Animal House” – after calling Deluca, whom she met on the Internet, and telling him, “I’m lonely,” sources said.
Once there, she had sex with her online buddy – and then had a consensual liaison with Waugh and two other firefighters, the sources said.
After the woman got home at about 6 a.m., however, she called 911 and reported that she had been raped, sources said.
By yesterday afternoon, cops began an investigation, but the woman changed her story, sources said. Instead of a gang-rape scenario, she admitted she had intercourse with at least one firefighter in a downstairs lounge area – and then engaged in oral sex with the others.
Waugh would not comment. Deluca could not be reached. Both men are married.
It is unclear whether any of the reassigned officers knew what was going on downstairs in the early hours – but the city Department of Investigation has initiated its own probe.
The agency will also investigate the woman’s claim of bedding hundreds of other firemen. Charges could be filed if any of the sex happened in a firehouse or while the officers were supposed to be on-duty.
Police sources also said the woman acted strangely during questioning – and even asked at one time that she be interviewed by more handsome detectives.
This firehouse sex shakeup is only the latest trouble for a fire department that has been rocked by scandals involving sex, booze and violence over the past year.
On New Year’s Eve, a fight broke out at Engine 151 and Ladder 76 in Staten Island in which a firefighter was critically injured after being smashed in the head with a chair.
On Jan. 24, several firefighters were suspended when a stash of booze was found at a Manhattan firehouse.
Since the beginning of this year, 28 firefighters have been busted for DWI.