Eight firefighters have been injured in a crash in California. One in every of them is in a coma, preventing for his life.
Throughout a press convention on Friday, Sept. 20, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy introduced that firefighters have been concerned in an accident whereas coming back from aiding with the Airport Hearth, which began on Monday, Sept. 9, and has but to be absolutely contained, per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The firefighters — who have been members of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Local 3631’s Handcrew — have been returning to the incident command publish after aiding with the hearth on Thursday, Sept. 19, when their truck overturned northbound State Route 241 at about 6:50 p.m.
The Orange County Hearth Authority’s website explains {that a} handcrew member’s major accountability is to carry out “hazardous fuels discount initiatives and wildland hearth suppression.”
“Crews will steadily be referred to as on for 24-hour protection throughout excessive hearth hazard days and could also be gone in extra of 14 days at a time on hearth assignments out and in of [the] county,” the web site states.
Fennessy stated the handcrew had simply completed a 12-hour shift when the “solo rollover accident” occurred.
In accordance with the chief, two of the eight firefighters have been taken to native hospitals and launched that night time, and 6 have been taken to native trauma facilities in “steady to essential” situations.
Whereas the incident stays beneath investigation, family and friends recognized one of many injured firefighters as Matthew Nichols.
“He’s at present in a coma, preventing for his life, whereas his spouse, Carissa, stands by his facet day by day, navigating a actuality nobody might have ready for,” a GoFundMe campaign made on behalf of Nichols’ household and buddies reads.
In accordance with the fundraiser, Nichols is a father to a 6-month-old son named Theodore.
“Matthew has all the time been a protector, each for his household and his neighborhood. Now, it’s our flip to help him and his family members,” the marketing campaign states, noting that donations are “to assist ease the monetary burden on Carissa.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Orange County Skilled Firefighters Affiliation, Native 3631, additionally shared a link on Facebook to the Fallen Hearth Fighter Reduction Fund which provides “monetary help to skilled firefighters, firefighters’ households and charity organizations all through the State of California.”
By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to remain up-to-date on the perfect of what PEOPLE has to supply, from celeb information to forcing human curiosity tales.
As well as, the group additionally created a separate GoFundMe campaign to boost funds for the eight injured firefighters. As of this writing, the fundraiser has raised over $312,000.