Six firefighters with the Orange County Fire Authority remain hospitalized out of the eight that were injured following a rollover crash that occurred as the crew was returning from battling the Airport Fire. Camilla Rambaldi reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2024.
Eight firefighters returning from the Airport Fire were injured Thursday night in a rollover crash on a freeway in Orange County.
The collision was reported around 6:45 p.m. on the northbound 241 Freeway just north of Portola Parkway in Irvine.
An Orange County Fire Authority truck transporting firefighters swerved attempting to dodge a ladder on the road. The truck hit the guard rail on the toll road and rolled over, according to CHP.
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"For reasons still being investigated, the OCFA truck lost control and subsequently struck a metal guard rail causing the OCFA truck to overturn and coming to rest on its side," the California Highway Patrol said in a statement.
At a Friday morning news conference, authorities said two of the injured firefighters were treated and released Thursday night at Hoag Medical Center, three were taken to Mission Hospital, two to OC Global Medical Center and one to UC Irvine Medical Center. Fennessy said the firefighter at UC Irvine was expected to be released soon. He said four of the eight firefighters in the crash were more severely injured than the others.
Dr. Humberto Sauri of OC Global Medical Center said both firefighters being treated at that hospital remained in the intensive care unit. He said one is "critical but stable," while "the other remains quite critical still.''
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The OCFA handcrew was finishing a 12-hour shift battling the Airport Fire, according got OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fenessy. The work, which requires extreme physical fitness, usually involves arduous work to help build fire lines, remove materials that can burn and other tasks essential to battling a wildfire.
"It breaks my heart," said OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, adding that he has received messages of support from departments around the country. "We ask that you pray for our firefighters and their families. This is the beginning of a long road for our firefighters and their families."
Fennessy said the truck they were in has individual seating for firefighters.
#IRVINEPDPIO - Our partners from CHP are investigating a collision on the 241 Toll Road near SR-133. The NB SR-133 is diverted to exit to Irvine Blvd. The NB 133 on-ramps are closed at Irvine Blvd. Helicopters are in the area assisting. #irvine
— Irvine Police Department (@IrvinePolice) September 20, 2024
"They do have all the protections that are required,'' Fennessy said. "I don't know this for sure, but I'm confident ... knowing the supervisors and those that manage these crews that the crew was seat-belted, which I'm sure was very helpful."
Fennessy praised the work of paramedics who responded to the scene and acted professionally despite caring for colleagues who were "gravely injured on the freeway."
Several lanes were closed off prompting a SigAlert on the SR-241 near Tomato Springs Toll Plaza Ts. The 241 Toll Road is closed between Portola Parkway and the 133 Toll Road.
The Airport Fire 23,500-acre Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties was 39-percent contained after starting earlier this month.
