By Vanessa Thomas
The Buffalo News
Copyright 2007 The Buffalo News
All Rights Reserved
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The next two days will be crucial for a Buffalo firefighter who remained in “very, very critical” condition today with devastating injuries he suffered Sunday while fighting an arson fire at a vacant Wende Street house.
Firefighter Mark Reed, of Engine 31, was taken to Erie County Medical Center after a chimney collapsed on him as he fought the fire at 120 Wende St. Fire crews dug him out of the debris, and he was placed on a backboard and taken to the hospital.
“He suffered a very devastating injury,” Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo said at a morning news conference. “His condition is very, very critical at this time.”
Reed, 36, a 10-year veteran of the Buffalo Fire Department, suffered extensive trauma, massive bone and muscle injuries, multiple rib injuries, a punctured lung and multiple facial fractures, fire officials and doctors said. A CAT scan also revealed a brain injury.
“His prognosis is uncertain,” ECMC trauma surgeon Dr. Krishan Raghavendran said. “The next 48 hours are very crucial.”
Reed remained heavily sedated today, on pain medication, in the medical center.
The fire, which broke out shortly before 8 p.m. and was put out an hour or so later, has been labeled an arson. Authorities have posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.
The fire left $20,000 damage to the vacant house.
Firefighters union President Joseph E. Foley and Mayor Byron W. Brown joined Lombardo, other fire officials and doctors at today’s press conference.