Update: Okla. Firefighter Badly Hurt in Arson Fire

Jan. 01-- Authorities think someone intentionally set a house fire in which a Tulsa firefighter was seriously injured New Year's Eve.

James P. O'Neal, 35, was unconscious and not breathing when fellow firefighters brought him out of the burning house around 10 a.m. Saturday, Tulsa Fire Department public information officer Stan May reported Sunday.

The department's Rapid Intervention Crew assisted with getting O'Neal out of the house, and Tulsa Fire Department paramedics performed advanced life support procedures to restore his pulse and breathing at the scene, May said. O'Neal was conscious when he was taken by ambulance to the Oklahoma State University Medical Center, he said.

Chad Miller, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 176, said Sunday that O'Neal was in intensive care.

O'Neal, who has been a Tulsa firefighter almost 14 years, is part of the Engine 19 crew, which was the "first-in" group of firefighters responding to the fire at 4926 N. Elwood Ave., May said.

The crew had made its way to one the back rooms of the house when O'Neal became unconscious.

Miller said by phone Sunday that O'Neal "had some sort of issue with his air supply, which caused him to lose air inside the structure."

May said officials are not sure whether the problem was equipment malfunction or O'Neal's mask was pulled loose, "but it caused him to inhale the smoke."

"We will be tearing down his protective equipment and investigate all of the possibilities," May said.

When O'Neal was carried outside, "he was in cardiac arrest," but the other firefighters got him "back into normal rhythm" before he was taken to the hospital, Miller said.

Although O'Neal is sedated, he has been awake and able to write notes and communicate by hand gestures, Miller said. He has not been able to talk because of an intubation tube, he said.

Fire investigators believe that someone set the back of the house on fire while the resident was not inside the home, May said.

Officials are asking that anyone with information about the fire call the Arson Hot Line at 918-596-ARSN (2776). All caller information remains anonymous; the caller receives a code number that he or she can use to collect a reward if the tip results in the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.

Miller announced Sunday that local firefighters have added an additional $1,000 reward to the Arson Hot Line effort.

"Our members risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Tulsa, and now we are asking for their help in assisting us," Miller said in a press release.

"Our members recognize the job that we do is dangerous, and we gladly accept that responsibility. But as one of our members remains in intensive care, we are very committed to provide any assistance that we can to make sure the individual responsible for that fire is quickly brought to justice."

World Staff Writer Amanda Bland contributed to this story.