Fla. Firefighter Still Hospitalized After Brush Rig Crash
Source Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla.
April 26--PALM CITY -- A female lieutenant with Martin County Fire Rescue is still being treated for injuries she received battling Friday's 7-acre brush fire in Palm City off Southwest Citrus Boulevard, rescue officials confirmed Saturday.
"The lieutenant is still in the hospital and she's doing fine, but we can't release her name," Fire Rescue Chief Daniel Harshburger said.
She was flown Friday to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce with a neck injury after the brush truck she was in slammed into a tree amid heavy smoke.
Harshburger said she's expected to undergo further medical examinations to assess her condition.
Meanwhile, firefighters from Martin County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service on Saturday continued to monitor the site of the blaze that sparked around 2 p.m. and grew into a 7-acre brush fire.
The fire was fully contained by Friday evening.
"We had a crew out there all night just on fire watch," Harshburger said, "and we had initial crews going out this morning to mop up hot spots."
Investigators with the Forest Service will be tasked with determining the cause of the fire. Officials on Friday ruled out lightning or an authorized burn as being the source.
"As far as we know," Harshburger said Saturday, "we haven't been told anything yet."
According to a news release from the Forest Service, as Saturday's temperatures and winds increase and relative humidity decrease as expected, the chance for fire activity increases.
Harshburger agreed the higher humidity expected Saturday was worrisome.
"That doesn't help us any," he said.
Because the fire was east of Interstate 95, the Florida Highway Patrol also is watching the area for smoke that might reduce visibility for drivers. However, traffic cameras in the area midmorning on Saturday didn't show any smoke.
The Forest Service release noted three homes were saved, but a shed was destroyed.
During the fire, several homes and many horses along Markel Street had to be evacuated. Sheriff's deputies rescued two dogs from a barn that was damaged.
As officials battled the blaze, firefighters reported an explosion from an RV with an LP tank.
Forest Service officials used bulldozers to stop and contain the fire. Because of the smoky conditions, officials said they also had a fixed-wing pilot flying above the brush fire to identify hazards and update firefighters.
Copyright 2014 - Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla.
