By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. — A large, 400-pound door injured two Florida firefighters, briefly trapping one, during a fire at a firewood business on June 26.
Firefighters from several departments responded to a fire at a commercial firewood business in Alachua County, WCJB reported.
Alachua County, High Springs, and Newberry firefighters were fighting the fire at Southern Fuelwood when a 20-foot, 400-pound door came off its hinges while the firefighters were entering the building.
Two firefighters were struck and one was pinned by the door. Southern Fuelwood employees helped free the pinned firefighter with a forklift.
“The employees used a forklift, the door is very hot, the firefighters were in their full bunker gear and all their protective clothing, thank goodness,” Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus said. “They took a forklift to lift the door off of the firefighter where he had to be pulled out by his other firefighters.”
One firefighter suffered lower leg and rib injuries. The other has lower limb injuries. Both were transported to UF Health Shands.
Firefighters maintained a defensive operation to keep the fire from spreading and remained on the scene overnight.