IL FIREFIGHTER INJURED AT HOUSE FIRE
July 7, 2016
A Cahokia firefighter was hurt while the fire department was working a vacant house fire late Monday night, according to officials.
Cahokia Fire Chief Stephen Robbins said the firefighter hurt his arm on the scene of a fire on St. Columba Drive and was taken to a St. Louis hospital with minor injuries.
Robbins said he arrived on scene and saw “heavy fire” coming out of the garage, damaging the front of the house and melting the side of a neighboring home.
“We did have a firefighter hurt,” Robbins said, adding that the firefighter, Terry Minerd, fell in the road while walking around a fire truck. “He had an arm injury and he was treated and released at the hospital that night.”
Robbins said Minerd has been with the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department for two years, but has 30 years of firefighter experience working with other departments.
Minerd said he is hoping to recover in a couple of weeks.
Prairie Du Pont, Dupo and Camp Jackson fire departments also assisted at the fire.
No other injuries were reported in connection to Monday’s fire.
The fire marked one of four structure fire calls the fire department responded to earlier this week. Cahokia firefighters most recently worked a house fire early Wednesday morning at 2323 Maynor Drive. Robbins said at least two adults and two children inside the residence were able to get out, and the fire was contained to a back bedroom and bathroom area