admitting calling in a hoax fire alarm.

And Magistrate Edward King told a gallery filled with family and firefighters that Gladwyn Shawn Grant's actions were "dangerous to put it mildly and he knew what he was doing was wrong''.

Grant, 31, of St. Augustine Hill, Pembroke pleaded guilty at Magistrates' Court to making a false report to the Hamilton Fire Station on July 29, 1997.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Fire Service Jon Thompson confirmed Grant was still a member of the service and his case had been submitted to the Cabinet Secretary.

Lt. Thompson added it was not the policy of the service to comment on such matters.

Grant called 911 just after midnight and reported a fire at My Lord's Bay, Hamilton Parish.

Crown counsel Lesley Basden told Magistrate Edward King that three fire trucks, 14 firefighters and several Police officers searched the neighbourhood for more than a half hour without success.

The call was investigated, but the caller could not be identified from the audio tape of the conversation.

Ms Basden said records show the call was placed from The Fire Service Association office telephone 292-4319.

Grant was the only officer in the union office at that time.

Records also show earlier that evening a call had been placed to Grant's live-in girlfriend's home number 292-0210.

Ms Basden said that on January 20 Grant confessed to making the call but could not explain why he would jeopardise his career.

In mitigation, Grant's lawyer, Victoria Pearman, called Ashton Associates' clinical psychologist Carolyn Schuman who said Grant showed a "strong need for camaraderie''.

Dr. Schuman added that psychological assessment showed Grant -- like other firemen, policemen, and nurses -- was under stress and had the strength to recognise inappropriate behaviour.

"Judgment can be compromised when we're emotionally stressed,'' she added.

Dr. Schuman said while she could not predict the future, her tests had shown it was unlikely that Grant would re-offend.

Ms Pearman told the court that Grant had shown his bravery in numerous incidents including trying to save the life of a crane driver in an accident at Bull's Head parking lot.

Fireman fined "Mr. Grant showed leadership by risking himself to attempt a release of the injured man,'' she added. "He tolerated extreme stress in that situation and its outcome.'' Ms Basden told Mr. King that the Fire Service estimated the cost of the call was more than $2,000.

She added: "As well as endangering the lives of the officers and general public. The Crown views this offence as one of a very serious nature.'' Mr.

King ordered Grant to pay the fine by July 29 or face four months in prison.