Four Fort Worth firefighters were hurt while responding to a call Tuesday morning. The Fort Worth Fire Department says the crew was driving toward a house fire on Pecos Street, near the U.S. Highway 287/Interstate Loop 820 interchange in southeast Fort Worth about 2:30 a.m.
The engine rolled over near the intersection of Village Creek Road and Wilbarger Street, fire Chief Jim Davis said. Four firefighters in the truck were hurt and taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from "sprains and strains to fractures." Davis said one firefighter had a head injury.
He said two firefighters remained in the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The other two were discharged.
"While our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families, our main focus right now is supporting the families of these folks and making sure we get them everything they need," Davis said.
Davis said the four firefighters had each been with the department for years and chose to be assigned to that area.
"They want to be in that neighborhood. They want to be in the community where the community's need is," Davis said. "They are a group of aggressive firefighters who love the job and are there because they want to be there."
He said the crew was on its ninth or 10th call of the day and was responding to its second active fire.
"In order to work in busy areas of the city like that, it takes a special person with a special mindset with a can-do attitude, a problem-solving attitude," Davis said.
Fort Worth police are leading the investigation of the crash. They said no other cars were involved.
"Investigators will hopefully interview all four [injured firefighters] at some point, but right now, they have not been able to reach anyone because obviously their health and whatever medical needs they have are going to come first," police Chief Neil Noakes said.
Noakes said the police department's Traffic Investigations Unit will look at why the fire engine lost control. He said they are "very early" in the investigation, but they will look at all factors that might have contributed.
"Our prayers are with the injured firefighters, Chief Davis, the entire department, the loved ones of those who were injured, and also for all first responders who responded to that incident," he says. "Anytime there is an accident with significant injuries, it's very impactful to those who respond regardless of who it is. They'll all get the same level of professional service regardless of who may be involved, but I have to say when it's someone you know, work alongside, serve alongside, someone whose job is to help others and now they find themselves in need of help, that can be even more impactful for first responders who arrive on scene."
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