UPDATED: Downey fire injures two firefighters
UPDATE 8/24: A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Matt Henderson, one of the firefighters burned badly in Downey Monday. To donate and find out more about Henderson’s condition, click HERE.
UPDATE 8/22: The Downey Fire District has released the names of the two firefighters who are currently being treated at the University of Utah’s burn center: Matt Henderson and Kent Winward, both from Downey, are being treated for burns on roughly 30 and 40 percent of their bodies. Their current condition is still unknown.
The third firefighter burned during yesterday’s fire was treated and released the same day.
UPDATED: PMC says at least one of the firefighters was treated at PMC and then transferred to the University of Utah Hospital for further treatment.
The fire truck was a total loss.
ORIGINAL STORY: Two firefighters from the Downey Fire Department were injured at a small fire in Downey Monday afternoon.
The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office said around 11 a.m., a small fire broke out on South Marsh Valley Road in Downey.
The Downey Fire Department responded. Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said there was a can of gasoline on the back of the fire truck, it somehow got accidentally knocked over onto the fire and ignited the firetruck. Two firefighters were hurt.
The sheriff’s office said one firefighter had some broken bones and burns. The other firefighter was severely burned all over his body. Both were taken to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
The sheriff’s office said other than the two firefighters, there were no other injuries. There were structures about 100 to 200 yards away but no structures were damaged.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The names of the firefighters injured have not yet been released, so their current conditions are unknown.
