A D.C. Fire and EMS firefighter was seriously injured Thursday after being struck by a ladder truck while crews worked a fire in Southwest Washington, D.C., according to the department. Colleagues treated the member at the scene before a medical helicopter airlifted the firefighter to an area trauma center. Later in the day, officials reported that the firefighter was in stable condition.
The incident unfolded on the unit block of Galveston Street SW in the city’s Southwest neighborhood, where firefighters were already battling a blaze, according to Daily Voice. Responders provided immediate care on the street before the helicopter transport to a trauma hospital. The department described the injuries as serious and has not released the firefighter’s name. The Metropolitan Police Department is assisting D.C. Fire and EMS in a joint investigation into what happened.
Apparatus Incidents Are Rare but Not Unprecedented
While scenes like this are unusual, they are not unheard of in D.C. In 2017, a probationary firefighter was critically injured after being hit by a ladder truck at a house fire, an incident that prompted internal reviews, according to WTOP. That earlier case led department leaders to take a hard look at procedures and how fire vehicles are positioned at active scenes.
Investigation and Next Steps
D.C. Fire and EMS said it will closely examine the circumstances of the latest incident and work with the Metropolitan Police Department to identify any contributing factors, as reported by Daily Voice. Officials have not released the name of the hospital where the firefighter is being treated or offered a timeline for when additional information might be made public.
Hoodline will update this post if D.C. Fire and EMS or the Metropolitan Police Department release more details about the firefighter’s condition or the ongoing investigation. No further information was available at the time of publication.
