Ventura County Star
VENTURA, Calif. — A 34-year veteran of the Ventura City Fire Department suffered multiple fractures after falling about 10 feet into a concrete culvert while responding to a fire Sunday near Highway 33, officials said.
Capt. Myles Smith remained hospitalized Monday with serious injuries. Smith sustained multiple fractures to the right side of his body including his shoulder, arm, pelvis and femur.
“He’s facing a fairly long road here,” said Ventura Fire Marshal Brian Clark.
Smith has been a captain with the department for 22 years, Clark said.
The fire in the Ventura River bottom was reported at 2:36 p.m. It was burning on the side of the freeway near Stanley Avenue, officials said.
Ventura city and county fire departments responded.
Clark said Smith was injured about 20 minutes after the original call reporting the incident. Smith tumbled down an embankment and fell about 10 feet to the bottom of a concrete ditch, Clark said.
The rescue was swift, and firefighters were able to move him to the top of the embankment. Smith was treated and stabilized by a fellow firefighter before being taken to a trauma center, where he underwent surgery. Officials said he is expected to have more surgeries to repair the damage.
By 3 p.m., firefighters had extinguished flames and were mopping up.
Authorities were looking for a man whom they said witnessed the fall and then left the scene. The person was later contacted and determined to not have been involved.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.
Clark said the department chief initiated a serious-accident review team to investigate the incident. The team includes members of the agency as well as outside representatives.
Smith and his family are being supported by the Ventura City Fire Foundation and the Ventura City Firefighters Association, officials said.
“The fire service is a big family,” Clark said.
Anyone wishing to donate to the foundation to help Smith can call 339-4300.
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