Firefighter hit by falling tree while battling brush fire in Washington County
AMWELL TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDAK) — A firefighter battling a brush fire in Amwell Township, Washington County, was struck by a falling tree on Friday.
Crews were called to the scene of the blaze near Dynamite Road on Friday when a firefighter from South Strabane Township was injured after a tree fell on him. In a post on Facebook, the South Strabane Fire Department said the firefighter sustained a head injury and was flown to a local hospital.
In an update on Saturday, the South Strabane Fire Department said the injured firefighter's injuries are not life-threatening and they are recovering at home.
"Freak accident," Amwell Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Norm Arthur said. "The tree came down, [and] landed right on the firefighter."
"It's always tough when it's a fireman," he added. "We are all brothers."
The brush fire was in the woods behind the homes on Dynamite Road. Crews were called to the scene around 3 p.m.
"People got to stop burning," Arthur said. "Right now, it's a drought. We haven't had a good rain since May, April. We are just asking people to stop burning so we don't have to keep coming out here and doing this."
Arthur said Friday's brush fire was the eighth or ninth the department has battled over the last 14 days.
"We all have things we'd like to tend to," he said. "We can't right now because we are out volunteering and helping other people."
"The response from firefighters and departments around the country has been incredible," said South Strabane Chief Jordan Cramer. "We are especially thankful to Ambulance & Chair EMS and STAT MedEvac for their excellent care, as well as the Chartiers Fire Department for assisting with coverage, and Peters Township Fire Department for providing staffing support."
Due to the ongoing drought conditions across the state, the fire threat is high. The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for much of the state warning about fire danger.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said 99% of wildfires in Pennsylvania are caused by people.