Outrage was sparked when a Facebook photo appeared to show a Confederate flag hanging from a Brookhaven Fire Department truck.

The photo of the truck was shared over and over again on Facebook, prompting the department to post an apology on its own Facebook page Sunday afternoon.

Chief of Department Peter DiPinto Junior said in part, "... the incident involved a sole firefighter, acting alone, during a non-response event," and that disciplinary action was already underway.

He added, "The unauthorized action was done without the knowledge of our leadership team and is condemned in the strongest of terms." 

In a series of tweets, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone responded to the incident, writing in part, "I was deeply disturbed and angered to learn that someone prominently displayed a confederate flag on a fire truck in this county."

He continued saying the individual responsible should be held accountable, and thanked the Brookhaven Fire Department for its swift response.