A Pennsylvania fire instructor-conducting live fire training this afternoon was very critically burned in the fire training building. The instructor was working at the State Fire Academy in Lewistown this weekend as an Adjunct Instructor for the Suppression Instructor Development Class. They were starting the last fire of the day wherein the Instructor candidates would be evaluated in a variety of positions. The instructor was found by the candidates in the corner of the burn room as they entered. The candidates quickly extinguished the fire in the burn room and removed the victim from the room, a Mayday was immediately called by another Instructor in the basement and the RIT team was sent to the basement to assist with removal.
The victim was treated and then flown to the Lehigh Valley Burn Unit with very serious 2nd and 3rd degree burns over a large portion of his body including respiratory and facial. He is listed in critical condition. The instructor was wearing an SCBA when he entered the operating area. The victim’s name is Robert Gallardy, a career Fire Captain in the Altoona City FD and has been in the volunteer and career fire service for nearly 30 years. He is an Adjunct Instructor and Local Level Instructor for OSFC/State Fire Academy. As always-we wish those affected-especially the family of Captain Gallardy-and others involved-our thoughts and prayers for a successful recovery.
UPDATE: The City of Albuquerque (New Mexico) Firefighter that burned his hands on October 17th, 2005 is making good progress. The doctors have finished a course of treatment and have decided that the Firefighter will keep his hands and fingers; no amputation will be necessary. His prognosis is good and a positive recovery is expected. The AFD is hopeful that he will regain full use of both hands.
UPDATE: Los Angeles City Fire Captain shocked. During the investigation of light smoke on the 4th floor of a five story office building, Captain Eric J. Greene, a 28 year veteran of the LAFD sustained a severe electric shock while traversing an LAFD aerial ladder being operated near high-voltage power lines. Captain Greene, age 52, was pulseless and non-breathing when removed from the ladder by fellow Firefighters and was immediately defibrillated and transported. As of 6:00 PM PDT Saturday, Captain Greene had been transferred in critical condition to the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. The source of smoke was determined to be an electrical panel on the roof of the building. The cause of the small fire has not yet been determined. As a result of this incident and in accordance with LAFD protocol, Chief Bill Bamattre has assembled a multi-disciplinary “Significant Incident Investigation Team (SIIT)” to investigate.
The Secret List is an independent newsletter produced since 1998 in an effort to bring forward the issues involving injury and death to firefighters. Both FireFighterCloseCalls.com and The Secret List take a “No BS” approach to presenting relevant issues in an effort to help firefighters learn from tragic events to prevent future accidents. Chief Billy Goldfeder and CHP Captain Gordon Graham host www.FirefighterCloseCalls.com.