Pa. Firefighter Falls Out of Engine as Door Latch Fails

Officials say a broken door latch is to blame for injuries to an Arnold firefighter who tumbled from a truck on the way to a fire call this morning .

Arnold Company No. 2 Chief Christopher O'Leath said he was driving the fire engine just after 8:30 a.m. when the incident occurred.

“It was a catastrophic failure of the door latch,” said O'Leath. He said the truck was turning from Drey Street onto Kenneth Avenue when the door flew open.

“We were going only 8 to 10 miles per hour, so it wasn't at high-speed. But it was just enough for him to fall out.”

The injured firefighter, whose name was not released pending notification of family, suffered shoulder and minor head injuries, said O'Leath. The injured man was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison for treatment. None of his injuries is life-threatening.

O'Leath said the engine, a late 1980's model, was on loan from another fire company and does not have seatbelts. The engine has been taken out of service.

Company No. 2's regular engine was out of service for pump and electrical renovations. O'Leath said that engine is expected to return to service this afternoon. Until then, New Kensington fire companies will cover for Arnold No. 2.

The firefighters were responding to a report of an electrical fire in the wall of a home in the 1600 block of Kenneth Avenue when the accident happened. That call was covered by a New Kensington fire crew.

Following department policy, O'Leath had himself taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing because he was the driver of a fire truck involved in an accident. The tests were negative.

Chuck Biedka is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4711 or [email protected].

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