By Maki Becker, Vanessa Thomas and Matt Gryta
Buffalo News (New York)
Copyright 2007 The Buffalo News
All Rights Reserved
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo firefighter who was severely injured when a chimney collapsed on him as he battled an arson fire at a vacant house Sunday night was showing “minuscule” signs of recovery Tuesday, Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo said.
Firefighter Mark Reed, 36, was heavily sedated and breathing with the aid of a machine but has managed to take a breath on his own, Lombardo told The Buffalo News just after visiting him in the intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Also, doctors have been able to relieve some of the pressure on Reed’s brain.
“So we’re hopeful,” Lombardo said. But “he’s still very, very critical. So he’s not out of the woods yet.”
Meanwhile, the former owner of the house at 120 Wende St. where Reed was injured was in jail Tuesday on a bench warrant for allegedly failing to appear in city Housing Court to face housing code violations related to the property, as well as a second house on Best Street.
Dale L. Acker, 43, was taken into custody Monday night with the assistance of Erie County sheriff’s deputies in Delevan and was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail in the Erie County Holding Center.
Acker was not charged in connection with the Wende Street blaze.
He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court June 21.
The bench warrant was issued in January after a series of court actions against Acker that date back to at least 2005, said Richard Tobe, commissioner of the city’s Department of Economic Development, Permits and Inspections.
“We’ve had a long-term situation with this property owner,” Tobe said.
In November, the city took title to the Wende Street property from Acker after he allegedly failed to pay back taxes on it. Acker then was ordered to either tear down the building himself or pay the city to have it demolished. But nothing was done. The morning after the fire that injured Reed, the city razed the property as an emergency demolition.
All day Tuesday in ECMC, Reed was surrounded by his wife, Nancy; his parents; and fellow firefighters who kept vigil at his bedside.
They were deeply thankful to the people of Buffalo for their outpouring of support and prayers, Lombardo said.
Dr. Krishan Raghavendran, an ECMC trauma surgeon, said Reed is showing some small signs of improvement, although it’s still not clear what the extent of the injuries to his brain and body are.
“His overall condition has improved somewhat,” Raghavendran told The News.
“He has had no further blood transfusion since [Monday], which means he’s not actively bleeding. His blood preassure and his heart rate are good.”
Raghavendran said Reed’s lower right leg, which suffered severe trauma, is “looking a lot better.”