A Youngstown firefighter driving a fire truck was shot in the leg by an unknown assailant while clearing the scene of a house fire Monday night. A second bullet went through the coat of a second firefighter in the back of the engine who was uninjured.
The driver was hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to television station WKBN27 the incident began with a call that came in at about 10 p.m. for a house fire on Elm Street.
As the truck cleared the scene and headed down near by Halleck Street shots rang out and bullets pierced the truck, the station reported. A bullet went through the coat of one firefighter in the back of the apparatus and another bullet hit the driver in the leg, according to the report.
Youngstown Fire Chief John O’Neill told the television station he believes the truck was targeted and it was not a random act nor does he think they were stray bullets.
“I don’t think they were stray bullets,” O’Neill told the television station. “There were a few shots taken, and we have at least two bullet holes in the truck.”
The injured firefighter was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital and is expected to fully recover.
Police immediately set up a perimeter in the area and searched for the suspect, but arrested no one.
As a precaution, a police squad will accompany firefighters to any fire scene until further notice, WKBN reported.
