BOSTON—Imagine you're a Boston firefighter — running into a burning triple-decker — and the rookie next to you couldn’t even pass the basic fire drill test.

According to insiders, that scenario is no longer hypothetical. Sources say some cadets failed critical benchmarks and were quietly pushed through the academy — and a newly leaked contract shows it came with a $40,000 incentive: a bonus Mayor Wu gave the fire commissioner, tied directly to launching three DEI fire cadet classes aimed at increasing racial and gender diversity.

If you’re in the department, you’ve probably already heard the whispers: second chances, retests on weekends, no one getting dropped. Now, newly surfaced documents are adding fuel to the fire — raising questions about public safety, political pressure, and whether standards were compromised in the process.

The results? “Instructors are frustrated. The message from leadership is clear: cadets can’t be fired, even when they fail repeatedly,” the source told Mass Daily News. “Standards are being compromised, and morale is sinking fast.”

What's in the Contract?

The leaked 2024 contract shows Wu approved a $40,000 raise for Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, bringing his salary to $290,000. Unlike his 2022 agreement, which offered the bonus as a separate stipend, the new contract folds it into his base pay — tied directly to launching three cadet classes that improve the department’s racial and gender diversity.

Were Cadet Standards Lowered?

At the heart of the controversy is a question many inside the department are now quietly asking: Were the standards lowered to meet diversity targets — and were unfit cadets pushed through anyway?

Sources allege at least one cadet failed “must-pass” fitness events, but were allowed to quietly retake them during off-hours.

“They couldn’t pass during the week, but somehow passed when no one else was around,” one of the sources said.

Sources also described a culture in which instructors feel unable to enforce even the most basic standards — and some are now looking for ways to return to their firehouse assignments.

“It’s an every day, every event problem,” sources said. “And no one’s allowed to say a word.”

Veteran firefighters say the implications are severe. Firefighting isn’t a classroom exercise — it’s a job that demands speed, strength, and split-second decisions under pressure. Lowering standards, they warn, doesn’t just affect the academy — it could cost lives.

This isn’t about who someone is. It’s about whether they can drag 200 pounds of gear up a stairwell, stay focused in a smoke-filled room, and keep pushing when everything in their body wants to stop. That’s the difference between survival and tragedy — and if that’s not being tested properly, the public may already be at risk.

What Happens in a Real Fire?

Though the program was created to promote equity and access, insiders say the reality inside the academy tells a different story.

On Day 1, cadets were reportedly told they had earned their positions “as much if not more” than veteran firefighters — despite some showing up physically out of shape and unprepared, having only completed a two-year stint painting fences and mowing lawns.

“This isn’t about inclusion anymore,” the source said. “It’s about politics, payouts, and pretending everything’s fine. What happens when someone who couldn’t pass a basic drill is sent into a real fire?”

Veteran firefighters say it’s not just about strength — it’s about endurance, discipline, and readiness. Lowering those standards, they argue, puts everyone at risk, including the public.

The only thing insiders agree on: this isn’t about readiness — it’s about appearances. And the people paying the price may be the ones on the hose.

Have information about the Fire Cadet Program or city-run operations tied to Mass & Cass? Email tips@massdailynews.com — anonymity guaranteed.