Interviews with witnesses & update at hospital from WLKY-TV
Meade County Fire Protection District
From Emily Udell, Courier-Journal.com:
Five Meade County firefighters were injured when their firetruck overturned around 6:15 p.m. Monday near Brandenburg as they responded to a report of a car wreck, a spokesman for Kentucky State Police said.
The firefighters were flown to University Hospital in Louisville by helicopter, said Chief Larry Naser of the Meade County Fire District.
TV stations report Engine 42 is the oldest rig in the fleet.
One firefighter was examined and released by 10:30 p.m., and the other four were still being treated in the emergency room.
"They are all conscious, alert and talking," Naser said. "They appear to be stable at this time."
He had no immediate information about their names or further information on their conditions.
The accident occurred on Ky. 448, about 30 miles southwest of Louisville, said Trooper Steve Pavey of the state police, who were investigating the incident.
It took about 25 minutes for other firefighters to extricate those trapped in the overturned pumper, Naser said.
The truck will have to be replaced, he said.
The man trapped in the wreck the firefighters were responding to was also extricated.
Naser said last night's wreck was the first involving Meade County's fire department since a 1974 crash in which a firefighter was ejected from a tanker.
"Today was a lucky day -- no one was killed," he said.
Numerous fire departments offered mutual aid and resources, including chaplains to speak to the families who were gathered at the emergency room last night.
David McArthur, a hospital spokesman, said the Red Cross would provide supplies and services.
Eric Johnson, director of the group Supporting Heroes, said firefighters from numerous area departments had stopped at the hospital to pay their respects.
All of the men involved in the pumper accident were experienced firefighters, Naser said.
The driver of the truck was a 10-year fire service veteran and had been certified to operate the vehicle for six months, he said.
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