City leaders are calling for an investigation into the FDNY’s training curriculum and practices after a video surfaced recently showing Black and brown students carrying cotton balls, with their hands tied behind their backs

"Forcing Black and Brown students to carry cotton balls with their hands tied behind their backs is not only demeaning, it is blatant racism, plain and simple," said Council Member Rita Joseph, who chairs the Committee on Education.

The incident occurred in an FDNY training classroom in Queens during a summer youth program and was first reported by Pix 11 .

An FDNY spokesperson said once officials became aware of the incident, the department fired the employee in charge and launched an investigation.

The city’s education department is also calling for a probe.

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