Texas Firefighter Recovering from Inhalation Injuries

A Wheelock firefighter's condition has improved after she was transported by helicopter from a grass fire scene earlier this week.

Julie Clark was battling a 30-acre brush fire Wednesday when she was overcome by smoke. She was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and put on a ventilator.

"Just a little while ago they have down graded her out of ICU to a step down unit," Clark's daughter, Caitlin Crutchfield told local television station KBTX. "She's stable she been extubated, they took the tube out this morning. She was sitting up and talking to me when I left Houston."

"God was really taking care of us on that," said Crutchfield, who is a volunteer firefighter with Brazos County Precinct 3 Fire Department.

Fear stuck Crutchfield when she learned about her mother's injuries.

"We've seen in recent years what can happen on scenes, so mostly it was taking a deep breath and staying calm until I could find out something more."

Tests indicated that Clark did not suffer burns to the lungs.