STATter 911: Firefighter knocked off rig by power line. Gets up and keeps on fighting. One "tough firefighter". Close call in Detroit.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Firefighter knocked off rig by power line. Gets up and keeps on fighting. One "tough firefighter". Close call in Detroit.

The Detroit Fire Department believes it almost lost another firefighter on Sunday just 15 days after the death of Firefighter Walter P. Harris. It happened at a vacant house fire. From reading the account in the Detroit Free Press it sounds like Firefighter Christopher Glaub, a seven-year veteran, was operating a master stream from Ladder 13 when power lines fell across the rig:

“It was charged. A firefighter that would have been grounded on the ground, touching the rig, might have been killed,” (arson investigator Steve) Varnas said.

The shock sent Glaub hurtling off the truck to the ground. He then got up and went back to fighting the fire, Varnas said.

“He’s a tough firefighter. He shook it off and kept working,” Varnas said.

About three hours after the fire, Glaub went to Detroit Receiving Hospital complaining of a headache. He’ll be off for follow-up care, Engine 33 Sgt. Bob Grysko said this morning.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 10:52 AM

Comments:

Come on guys, protect your troops and give them proper medical care. Why the heck would you allow the injured Firefighter to return to his fireground duties when you would send any civilian who had been shocked to the ER for an evaluation.

Anyone who has received 110 voltage or higher through their body needs to get checked out with an ECG and be evaluated for cardiac arythmias. I'm glad that the brother had apparently only minor injuries, but that was piss-poor patient care for a fellow Firefighter.

Former apprentice lineman, substation operator, Seattle FD Lt.

# posted by

Anonymous : December 1, 2008 11:29 AM

I have to agree with you on that! He could have sustained a fatal heart rhythm, but was lucky enough to walk away...hopefully nothing turns up during his stay at the hospital.
Forget the "Macho" Fireman crap, that is a brother that needs care!

# posted by

Anonymous : December 1, 2008 1:46 PM

Does sound like a old school kind of FF, someone who wants to finish the job before getting checked out. He knows how he feels, I'm sure if he felt he needed to go, he would have asked then and there..

# posted by

Anonymous : December 2, 2008 12:28 AM

In Detroit, they are so understaffed, that if he had left the fireground, there would only have been 2 other people there...

Nice going being a real fireman. Now take a blow.

# posted by

Anonymous : December 2, 2008 6:05 PM

Actually it was weirder than the news reported. I was on top of the rig using the monitor when the 4800volt power line snapped and landed on the rig, touching my fire coat and getting hooked on the gun. I took the hit and fell off the rig. Then the FEO took off, dragging the rest of the power lines down. The rest of us went running. The adrenaline kicked in and I just went back to work. After the fire my head started pounding and my hands were shaking. EMS took me to the ER. The worst part is that I was on OT and it was my birthday.

# posted by

C.Glaub : July 24, 2009 4:17 PM