Indiana Firefighter Injured During Blaze

June 25, 2007
The firefighter caught his boot on the back of one of the fire trucks and fell to the ground, breaking his hip.

BATTLE GROUND, Ind.-- A local firefighter will be undergoing surgery this afternoon after a fall during a late-night fire.

Steve Baker, public information officer for the Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department in Battle Ground, said Tom Lehman caught his boot on the back of one of the fire trucks and fell to the ground, breaking his hip. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette.

The fire broke out just before 11 p.m. at 117 Main St., the home of Justin and Susan Richardson. Baker said the fire started where a mattress was pushed up against an electrical outlet.

The Richardsons and four children, two of which were visiting the house, got out. Justin Richardson went back in for a cat and suffered smoke inhalation. He was treated at the scene and the cat was later found dead in the house.

The house had $15,000 to $30,000 in damage and could not be lived in. The family was put up overnight by the American Red Cross.

Republished with permission of the Journal and Courier.

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