Firefighter Injured While Battling Brush Fire In SW Miami-Dade
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A 12-year veteran with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center after what's being called a "freak accident" while battling a brush fire in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said firefighters were called out shortly after 4:00 p.m. to reports of a brush fire near the Homestead Air Reserve Base off SW 132nd Avenue and 288th Street.
"During the operation, one of the firefighters was struck by a tree, was knocked unconscious. The crews on site pulled him out," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Felipe Lay.
Chopper4 was over the scene as more than a dozen firefighters continued battling the brush fire while the injured firefighter was airlifted to the hospital for treatment.
Not long after his arrival, firefighters began arriving to check in on him.
"Just as you can imagine, in a lot of pain, not really talking much," said Metro-Dade Firefighters Union Local 1403 President Omar Blanco.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also visited the firefighter and said the incident shows the danger firefighters face on every call.
"I've been in the fire service actively for 40 years, 25 actually in it, and I've never heard of that happening here in Dade County," said Gimenez.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the firefighter was first transported in serious condition, but Wednesday evening his condition improved to fair.
