STATter 911

Here is the press release from the Houston Fire Department on the two firefighters hurt in a house fire Monday evening:

Two Houston firefighters were injured during a house fire that the Houston Fire Department responded on Monday, November 3, 2008, shortly past 7 p.m. at 3910 Linder.

Captain Darin Unruh, Station 39, was critically injured with third degree burns and smoke inhalation. He is currently in critical, but stable condition at the hospital.

Unruh entered the department in January 1998 and has served out of numerous stations. In 2001 he was honored with the Public Safety Telecommunicator Award for processing a call in which he was able to assist a caller doing CPR on her child. In 2002, the HFD Valor awards also recognized him for three incidents. He was awarded the Unit Meritorious Medal for his part in rescuing a man trapped in a 20 foot hole in southwest Houston and the Unit Medal of Valor for his part in rescuing multiple citizens from an apartment fire in October 2001 and from an elderly care home in February of 2002. In May of 2005, Unruh was promoted to Captain. He and his wife have two young children.

Firefighter EMT Dennis Valencia, Station 34, was treated for second and first degree burns and has been released from the hospital. He entered the department in October 2001.

Firefighters tapped out the two-alarm fire just before 8 p.m. There were no other reported injuries and the residents also escaped without injury. Currently, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 5:21 PM