Rookie DC Firefighter Struck By Ladder Truck

John Matthews
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) A DC firefighter was taken to Medstar early Thursday with serious injuries after he was struck by a city ladder truck while responding to a rowhouse fire at 8th and F Streets NE.

Fire officials say 28-year-old Dane Smothers, a rookie firefighter, was preparing hose lines to battle a rowhouse fire when the arriving ladder truck struck him.

Smothers was rushed to Medstar with serious injuries that officials describe as “above the waist.” He underwent surgery at Washington hospital Center early Thursday morning, and is listed in critical condition.

As some firefighters and EMT personnel cared for Smothers, others were able to extinguish the rowhouse fire and prevent it from spreading to other homes.

The F Street fire was one of three battled by city firefighters overnight. Firefighters from Alexandria and Prince George’s County offered mutual aid to the District as resources were spread thin.

F St NE update: heavy fire 1st flr & rear porch of 2 story row. Fire knocked down. Minimal extension to adjacent homes. 1 injured FF tx. pic.twitter.com/y5VCmJqULx

— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 3, 2017