STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The firefighter seriously injured battling an inferno at a Bulls Head townhouse suffered burns to his airways when he inhaled hot gas after his protective face piece was knocked off during the response, FDNY officials said Saturday.
Although he remains intubated, his prognosis is “looking good at this time,” Chief of Department John Hodgens said at a press conference.
Firefighters responding to 77 Gary Court around 8:30 p.m. Friday encountered heavy flames shooting out of the windows of the top floor of the three-story townhouse, officials said.
Firefighters battle an all-hands blaze at 77 Gary Court in Bulls Head on Aug. 12, 2022. (Staten Island Advance)
The injured firefighter was among the responders carrying a hose up the tight staircase to extinguish the blaze. The nozzle of the hose hit into his face piece, causing it to fall off, officials said.
The firefighter, whose name was not released but is assigned to Engine 166 in Graniteville, breathed in heated gasses coming directly from the blaze and immediately went down the stairs.
He suffered internal injuries to his esophagus, which had the potential for swelling and was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where he was intubated as a precaution.
“He is intubated still at this time,” said Hodgens of Great Kills. “Although I saw him about an hour ago, he is sitting up in bed awake and he is doing much better, so the prognosis is looking good at this time.”
Chief of Department John Hodgens and Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh address the condition of a firefighter seriously hurt at the Bulls Head townhouse fire at press conference on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. (Courtesy of the FDNY)FDNY
Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the fire was accidental, caused by a power strip.
She thanked FDNY members for their efforts both beating back the inferno and providing timely medical treatment to their injured colleague.
“While his injuries were serious, we’re very lucky thanks to the swift work of our firefighters, our members of EMS, and all of the residents at the Staten Island Burn Center that he is in stable condition at this time and his prognosis is looking good,” Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh said no residents suffered injuries.
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