Firefighter Hurt at Unauthorized Controlled Burn, Stafford County, VA, Chief Says
Details are emerging about how a Virginia volunteer firefighter suffered severe injuries during a controlled fire in late May.
White Oak Firefighter Alex Byers almost died in late May while attempting a controlled burn of yard waste in the backyard of a rural Stafford County home, WRC reported.
Byers fell into the fire and sustained third-degree burns to 22% of his body and spent a month and a half in the hospital, said his father, Capt. Patrick Byers.
He, his father and brother took a Stafford County owned brush truck and a tanker to help their neighbor without authorization of a shift supervisor.
Stafford County Fire and Rescue Chief Joseph Cardello said had there been an emergency, the officer would not have known where the apparatus was.
“We've addressed it through the disciplinary process. In that way, I'm confident that this won't happen again," the chief said.
Capt. Byers said it's something he's done over the years. "Now, I've learned that certain things aren't the way we did it in the past, and that's been handled."
While the apparatus wasn't damaged, some personal protective equipment was, the chief said.
Byers and his sons remain volunteers at their fire department. However, Alex is still recovering from his burns.
The community rallied around him after his injury by holding a dinner to help him with expenses
