NY Firefighter in Serious Condition after Medical Issue at Drill

A New York firefighter suffered a medical emergency during a training exercise at the state's academy Wednesday.

According to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the unidentified Watertown firefighter was participating in a physical skills drill involving the use of breathing gear at the state's fire academy in Motnour Falls, WWNY-TV reports. That's when he experienced the unspecified medical issue and was airlifted to a Pennsylvania hospital, where he was in serious condition as of early Thursday afternoon.

“During a session involving some of our newest members, one became unresponsive and at this moment is receiving advanced medical care, after being airlifted from a local hospital to the Guthrie Robert Parker Hospital, a Grade II Trauma Center located in Sayer, Pennsylvania," the state's firefighters union said in a statement, according to WWNY.

Calling the incident "a life-threatening and disturbing series of events," the union is "demanding a comprehensive report and will pose questions to the officials" overseeing seeing the program and the Wednesday's drill. New York State police are conducting an investigation concerning what happened to the firefighter.

“There are serious concerns about circumstances and reactions surrounding these events," the union stated, according to WWNY. "We have not yet had the opportunity to speak to the members of the class witnessing the session."

The firefighter was one of nearly 40 from 16 departments participating in the 11-week Recruit Firefighter Training Program at the academy. In a February release announcing the training from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office, the program was described as rigorous, and some of the areas of focus included flammable gas firefighting, basic rescue technician skills and emergency vehicle and pump operations, as well as a daily physical fitness training.

“During the 11-week program, recruits participate in more than 500 hours of training in both classroom and practical settings," the release stated, according to WWNY.