Firefighters David Dole and Adam Kester are at Hamot Medical Center in Erie and have both undergone extensive surgeries for their injuries.
The two men were injured in the incident on Nov. 10 after being dispatched to the fire at 5384 Route 474 near Blockville at approximately 1:25 a.m.
Dole and Kester were manning a handline when they were injured, Assistant Fire Chief Vernon Sheldon Jr. told the newspaper.
"A 14-inch, 31-foot-long piece of a well casing used as a chimney dislodged from the building, striking the two firefighters," he said. "It glanced off David Dole, crushing his shoulder, causing rib injuries, a broken compound fracture to his lower left leg, and then striking Adam Kester in the back, breaking vertebrae and compression fractures."
Sheldon said that while progress has been made, both men face a long road to recovery.
"They both have been moved from intensive care, but I'm not saying they might not go back there after surgeries, but I spoke to both of the men yesterday," he said. "They are still undergoing more surgeries and it is going to be quite a lengthy process."
