April 03--CARBONDALE -- A Pioneer City firefighter was injured Thursday as crews battled a house fire at 204 1/2 Gordon Ave.
Brian Chapman was hooking up a hose when the coupling broke and hit him in the face, Carbondale Fire Chief Chris Pezak said. Mr. Chapman was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. He is in fair condition, hospital spokeswoman Westyn Hinchey said.
"It comes with the job," said firefighter Steve Wright, who saw Mr. Chapman get hit and was injured himself fighting a fire in December.
"You are eventually going to get hurt."
Firefighters met heavy smoke and flames when they arrived shortly after 10 a.m., Chief Pezak said. The fire appears to have started in a first floor bedroom and spread to the second floor.
State police fire marshal Russell Andress said the fire was accidental and electrical.
Firefighters had it under control within the hour, but not without injury. The coupling that hit Mr. Chapman is not heavy, but the hose it was around was charged with high-pressure water and moved with force.
The house is owned by Cindy Meloni, though no one was not home at the time. Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor, who was also at the scene, said he believes two people lived in the home.
The house was heavily damaged by fire, smoke and water. Scorch marks scarred the window frames. Broken window screens littered the bushes out front. Basement windows along the side were shattered. An ax was shoved into the front lawn, blade first, underneath an engine ladder stretching from the street to the home's roof. Eventually, a firefighter picked the ax out of the ground and continued on with overhaul, walking past a "for sale" sign on its back.
The home has been on the market for nearly a year, neighbor Candi Kimble said. She saw the smoke from the roof and dialed 911, but someone else saw it first because a fire truck roared down the road as soon as she hung up.
Mr. Chapman's injury conjures memories of fresh wounds for firefighters, Chief Pezak said. On Dec. 9, four firefighters were injured fighting a fire at 96 Fallbrook St.
"I'll never forget it," Chief Pezak said Thursday.
A collapse in the home injured William Walker Hose Company volunteer firefighters Brandon Allan and Greg Davis. Carbondale firefighter Bob Wright and his son, Steve Wright, were also injured. Father and son were treated and released from Regional Hospital of Scranton. Chief Pezak said Mr. Allan and Mr. Davis are still recovering.
"It's a dangerous business," Chief Pezak said.
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