Doctors Pleased With Progress of San Jose Firefighter

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Firefighter Frank Ryan, who suffered a heart attack while battling a three-alarm blaze last week, remains in critical but stable condition, but doctors are pleased with his progress, a San Jose Fire Department spokeswoman said Monday afternoon.

Ryan, 41, has been hospitalized since Thursday when he and 60 other firefighters were extinguishing a fire at St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown. Ryan collapsed and was rushed to Regional Medical Center.

"The family and firefighters are very hopeful," fire spokeswoman Capt. Mary Gutierrez said in a Monday email. Ryan's family and colleagues are at the hospital round the clock.

Ryan is a 15-year veteran of the fire department.