Volunteer firefighter fired for arguing Dylann Roof 'needs to be praised'

A volunteer firefighter from Texas was terminated Friday over a post he allegedly made in response to the deadly Charleston shooting.

KETK reports that Kurtis Cook, who belonged to the Mabank Fire Department in east Texas, commented on a South Carolina newspaper's Facebook page Thursday saying that Dylann Roof, quote, "needs to be praised for the good deed he has done."

Roof is accused of killing nine people Wednesday night after attending a Bible study at the historically-significant church Emanuel AME in Charleston.

The fire department caught wind of the post the following morning after an outcry from social media.

It launched an investigation and then released a statement announcing that Cook had been fired and banned from all department property. Many applauded the department for taking swift action.

KYTX says Cook did not deny making the post when confronted by the department.