Firefighter hurts back, taken to hospital after fire in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — A firefighter is in the hospital with a back injury after a fire in Springfield Monday.

Crews were called to a fire in the 1000 block of Garfield Avenue around 7:40 p.m., according to Springfield Fire Division Battalion Chief Jeremy Linn.

Linn said the fire was located at a large two-story, wood frame structure that housed two units — 1127 and 1129 Garfield Ave.

He said someone nearby let the people who live at the 1129 residence know a fire was in their home.

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Occupants at both units were able to exit the house without injuries.

One firefighter, only identified as a 20-year veteran of the department, was injured while battling the fire.

Linn said the firefighter was in the attic and low on air so went to exit the building. When doing so he stepped on the fire hose and fell down the steep stairs injuring his back.

He was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center where Linn said he is getting scans. His injuries were described as “not too serious.”

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Linn said he is hopeful the injured firefighter will be released from the hospital soon but it’s never easy to hear one of your own hurt.

“That’s always a high level of anxiety for us, as soon as we identified we had an injury we requested a second alarm which brought additional resources, an additional chief officer ... they had 14 members of the community show up and help us tonight,” Linn said.

Although the fire was mostly contained to 1129 Garfield, both units are not able to be lived in due to fire and water damage.

The Red Cross was called to help out those displaced.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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