IFD: Firefighter shocked while responding to home impacted by downed power lines

INDIANAPOLIS - A firefighter was shocked while responding to a home impacted by downed power lines on the southeast side of Indianapolis Wednesday night.




In a press release, the Indianapolis Fire Department confirmed a 29-year-old firefighter and four-year veteran with the agency was using a chainsaw on the roof of a single-story house located in the 6300 block of East Berwyn Street when he was shocked. After he was shocked, the firefighter fell 12 feet before hitting the ground in the home's backyard.




The 29-year-old's fellow firefighters rendered aid to him at the scene until medics transported him to Eskenazi Hospital. IFD reported that the firefighter was listed in serious condition while he was transported to the hospital.




IFD confirmed that the firefighter is currently awake, alert, oriented, talking and undergoing routine testing. At last check, the firefighter was listed in stable condition.




Per IFD, its crews first responded to Berwyn Street around 5:17 p.m. to investigate a reported house fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they located a burning tree limb that was leaning up against a garage. IFD confirmed that downed power lines were sprawled across the roof of the garage.




According to IFD, AES Indiana crews were called to the scene to assist firefighters.




Between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., IFD crews responded to 309 active incidents, many of which involved storm-related hazards like downed power lines and trees. The fire department also worked three residence fires during that same timeframe.




A strong line of storms that moved through central Indiana early Wednesday evening is likely what caused most of the damage. The storms - some of which were severe - exited the area shortly after 7 p.m.





via: https://fox59.com/news/ifd-firefighter-shocked-while-responding-to-home-impacted-by-downed-power-lines/