SUMMIT ROAD
– A firefighter working to
”
mop up
”
the area burned by the Croy Fire fell into a pit of hot ash
Wednesday afternoon and received second degree burns covering 10
percent of his lower body.
SUMMIT ROAD – A firefighter working to “mop up” the area burned by the Croy Fire fell into a pit of hot ash Wednesday afternoon and received second degree burns covering 10 percent of his lower body.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter was injured near Summit Road after slipping into the burning stump hole and was pulled out quickly by another firefighter. He was then airlifted to Valley Medical Center in San Jose for treatment.
“He’s burned from the thighs down, but he’ll be all right,” said CDF Morgan Hill Capt. Joe Gonzalez. “They’ll keep him in the hospital for three days and nights to watch for infection.”
The firefighter was based in the CDF’s Stevens Creek division in San Jose, and is now being treated at Valley Medical Burn Center in San Jose, Gonzalez said. His name is not being released by the CDF.
Crews of up to seven firefighters have been working to extinguish burning coals from tree stumps that continue to burn throughout the more than 3,000 acres charred by the Croy Fire that was declared fully distinguished on Oct. 5.
At least one CDF engine crew will continue mop up work until the first rains come to the area, Gonzalez said.
“(An injury) like this doesn’t happen often,” Gonzalez said. “It just goes to show that you need to always be alert, even when mopping up.”
