By Summer Lin
Los Angeles Times
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Four firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority’s Santiago crew remained hospitalized Friday evening after their vehicle crashed on State Route 241 while returning from battling the Airport fire, officials said.
The crash occurred around 6:40 p.m. Thursday on northbound State Route 241 when their vehicle swerved to avoid a ladder and rolled several times, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crew of eight firefighters were finishing their 12-hour shift on the Airport fire when the incident occurred.
The Airport fire first ignited Sept. 9 off Trabuco Creek Road near the RC flying field and had grown to 23,519 acres as of Friday morning. It was 51% contained.
Of the eight passengers, seven were transported by ground ambulance and one by helicopter, according to Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Brian Hennessy, who spoke at a Friday news conference. Six were taken to local trauma centers — two to Orange County Global Medical Center, three to Mission Hospital and one to UC Irvine.
“This is devastating for me personally, devastating for everyone in the fire service here in Orange County,” Hennessy added.
Two other firefighters were hospitalized at Hoag Hospital in Irvine in stable condition and were released Thursday night, Hennessy said.
One firefighter was released Friday from UCI Medical Center and another was released from Mission Hospital, the Orange County Fire Authority shared in an update on X.
The four remaining firefighters are hospitalized in varying states.
“The outpouring of well wishes has been humbling and is immensely appreciated by everyone at the OCFA,” the agency said in a statement Friday evening.
“Please keep our firefighters in your thoughts, hearts, and prayers, and thank you all for your support,” the statement continued.
Humberto Sari, a doctor with Orange County Global Medical Center, said during the news conference that both firefighters at his hospital were in the intensive care unit Friday morning. One was in critical but stable condition and the other was in critical condition.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighters and their families during this incredibly difficult time,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chair Don Wagner said in a news release. “We extend our deepest gratitude to these brave men and women for their selfless service and dedication to our community.”
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