VIDEO: Jackson firefighter was injured and hospitalized after falling through a hole in the floor while battling a house fire Thursday morning in South Jackson. The firefighter, a four-year veteran of the department, has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. He is awaiting further treatment to determine the extent of his injuries.
The fire occurred around 4:02 a.m. at a home in the 2300 block of East Drive in South Jackson. The blaze destroyed the home.
“It highlights the dangers we face every single day,” said Fire Chief RaSean Thomas with the Jackson Fire Department. “I hope it speaks volumes to the community regarding just the caliber of people we have – men and women – in this job to do this day-in and day-out to ensure that the citizens of Jackson are safe.”
3 On Your Side captured exclusive video of the firefighter limping to the truck after he was injured. Thomas said he’s breathing a sigh of relief knowing the firefighter will make a full recovery. Despite Thursday’s incident, Chief Thomas said his firefighters remain committed to their duties.
“The firefighters of the Jackson Fire Department, we understand the risks and dangers that come with the job,” Thomas said. “It tells me that we are courageous, it tells me that we are upstanding, and it tells me that we really love the citizens of Jackson. To actually know that we are going into a structure, or an environment that we may not come out of, it says a lot about the quality and pedigree of a Jackson firefighter.” Investigators are still working to determine what caused the early morning fire.
