Lyndsay Winkley
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO — A Cal Fire captain and three firefighters were injured while battling the Dixie fire in Northern California, but are expected to make full recoveries, fire officials said Saturday.
The injuries happened on Aug. 7 when a tree fell while the four were helping create a fire line around the blaze, a Cal Fire official said in a statement.
The victims were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. The firefighters were released within 24 hours, but the captain, who suffered more serious injuries, was hospitalized for nearly a week. He was released on Friday and flown back to Southern California to continue treatment with his family, the Cal Fire official said.
“His injuries will require continued rehabilitation, but he is expected to make a full recovery,” the statement read. Department officials said anyone interested in supporting the injured firefighters can donate to the CAL FIRE San Diego County Firefighter’s Benevolent Fund. For more information, visit venmo.com/u/sdcbenevolentfund.
The Dixie fire ignited on July 14 and had burned more than 540,000 acres across four rural counties as of Saturday. The blaze is 31 percent contained.
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