Second firefighter hurt in Iron Horse Fire
Second firefighter hurt in Iron Horse Fire
06 March 2011
published by www.cfnews13.com
USA — News 13 has learned that a second firefighter was hurt battling the almost 17,000 acre Iron Horse Wildfire along the Volusia-Brevard County line.
Division of Forestry officials have confirmed the second firefighter suffered almost the same type burns as the first firefighter when fumes and steam shot up from a hot spot within the fire lines.
DOF officials said this second firefighter, who is with Division of Forestry, was putting out hot spots on the north end of the fire, which is near Maytown Road in Volusia County, around 1 p.m. Saturday.
They said he approached a hotspot, sprayed it with water and the steam shot straight up, burning part of his face, neck and ear.
“Spraying the water onto hot ash, and then it kinda blew back on the gentleman,” said Anna Leasa Winter with the Division of Forestry.
Officials are not releasing the name of the firefighter, but they did say he is from the Panhandle.
The firefighter was taken by ambulance to Halifax Medical Center where he is being treated for second-degree burns.
The firefighter’s family has been notified, and he is expected to recover.
Risk management supervisors are telling firefighters to spray hot spots first before they shoot cold water onto it.
The Iron Horse Fire has been burning since Monday. It is 95 percent contained.
