Corona firefighter sustains critical arm injury while relocating to the Bronx
By Suzanne Monteverdi
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
A Corona firefighter was critically injured after the firetruck he was riding was involved in an accident in the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighter Sean O’Rourke, 44, of Ladder Company 138 was relocating with other firefighters from Queens to cover for a Bronx firehouse while the Bronx firefighters were responding to a nearby fire within a two-story apartment building located at 636 E235 St.
At 3:44 p.m., O’Rourke was involved in an accident at Westchester Avenue and Waters Place in the Bronx.
During the accident, O’Rourke sustained a serious arm injury. He is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. He has served 14 years with the FDNY.
The massive Bronx fire spread to five other buildings before it was able to be extinguished. Three responding Bronx firefighters were also injured in relation to the incident. Firefighters Patrick Morello and Joseph Brady are both in critical but stable condition. Lieutenant Joseph Martorell sustained serious burn injuries but has been treated and released.
Responding firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours. Approximately 170 total fire and EMS personnel responded to the incident.
Photo courtesy of FDNY