Tempe, AZ, Firefighter Returns to Work after Lightning Strike
Days after lightning struck a Tempe palm tree twice, injuring a firefighter during the second incident, he has returned to work.
Tempe firefighters were called after a lightning strike ignited a palm tree on fire as a storm moved through the area, AZFamily.com reported.
Officials said that the second lightning strike knocked down one of the firefighters who was trying to contain the fire in the top half of the tree. Video captured other firefighters running out of view after the lightning strike.
The firefighter was then walked to the ambulance and taken to the hospital, where he was later cleared to return to duty.
“It was scary. That was my first thought was, I’m glad he’s okay,” interim Fire Chief Kyle Carman told AZFamily. “We’re just very fortunate that he’s okay … It shows you what our folks are up against every single day.”
Carman said the firefighter returned to work on the next shift.
"Nearly 3,000 lightning strikes were recorded across Maricopa and Pinal counties in just 3½ hours during the storm. This video is a powerful reminder of the risks our crews can face and how quickly conditions can become dangerous," Tempe Firefighters shared on social media.
About the Author
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief
Peter Matthews is the editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.