BETHEL, Tenn.-- A volunteer firefighter was severely injured Monday when he was caught by a flashback while responding to a trailer home fire in the Bethel community of Anderson County.
Derrick Phillips, 33, was flown to UT Medical Center by Lifestar from the scene in the Woodhaven Trailer Park on Joe Owens Road.
Phillips was first listed in critical condition but was later upgraded to serious.
Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Dison said he was confident Phillips would recover.
Another person, Joshua Alley, 19, was also injured. He was treated and released.
In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Phillips works full time as an emergency medical technician.
"There was heavy smoke throughout the whole structure," said Chief Dison. "They thought that they seen fire to the back of the structure, and they were just searching it to make sure all the fire was out and at that time he just got disoriented."
The fire started around noon and firefighters were able to quickly bring it under control.
A family of five lived in the mobile home, but only one person was home when it started.
6 News has learned she woke up to the sound of the smoke alarm, saw flames on the back wall, and ran for the door.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In the meantime, the Appalachian Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the family. All three children in the family are under the age of five.
Republished with permission of WATE-TV.
