The story has been updated with a statement Meijer released to MLive.

OTSEGO COUNTY -- Meijer Inc. is feeling some online heat after a report alleging the retailer fired an employee who put out a customer's car fire with a store extinguisher.

David Bowers lost his job in November after he left his post as a greeter at a Gaylord Meijer store in Ostego County to assist a customer whose truck dashboard was on fire, according to UpNorthLive.com which broke the story.

Bowers said that although he knew his actions might violate company policy, the urgency of the situation required a quick response. He was later called into the store director's office where he was first suspended for his actions, and then fired, he told the news station.

In a statement to MLive, the retailer said it couldn't discuss Bowers' personnel history but that employees are trained to follow policies to protect the safety of workers and customers.

"Please be assured that this was not a random decision," the company said in a statement. "We have well-established safety procedures for emergency situations and we train all team members on those procedures. These procedures help ensure the safety of everyone – both customers and team members, and our team members know there are consequences when they don’t follow them. In this particular case, we feel we have to respect the privacy of the team member and therefore cannot get into the details which led us to this point.

Ken Kuzon, who credits Bowers for extinguishing the fire before it consumed his entire truck, told the station he is baffled by Meijer's treatment of Bowers: "I just think it's ridiculous why should you be penalized for being a good Samaritan."

See UpNorthLive.com's story here.

Several commenters on the UpNorthLive.com and STATter911.com, a website, that picked up the story, have been critical of the retailer for terminating Bowers.

And the retailer's Facebook page is filling up with messages, including many asking that Bowers get his job back, including this one from a Gaylord shopper: "I am saddened to read about the firing of David Bowers from the Gaylord store for helping to put out a fire in a customer's vehicle. I shop there almost exclusively, and am in the store several times a week. Mr. Bowers always was so friendly and helpful to everyone and helped to put a human face to your company. I hope that you will reconsider your decision."

Shandra Martinez covers business for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her or follow her on Twitter @shandramartinez.