Firefighter injured battling blaze
BROWNSVILLE – One firefighter suffered an ankle injury Friday while responding to a mattress fire at 1317 Second St., Brownsville. The fire was discovered around 2:10 p.m. when Missy Webber, who lives in the house, smelled a strong odor of smoke. Webber called 911 and when the firefighters responded, they found a mattress on fire in an upstairs bedroom.
“We think it was caused by an electric heating blanket,” said South Brownsville Fire Chief Edward “Woody” Nicholson. “We could see where the switch was still on. It was on warm.”
Nicholson said Webber got out of the house safely and firefighters were able to get the mattress out of the house. Nicholson said the only fire damage was to the bed, though there was smoke damage on the second floor of the home.
Nicholson said the house is occupied by Webber, Kenneth Poole Sr. and 4-year-old Kenneth Poole Jr.
One firefighter from the Hiller Volunteer Fire Department slid on ice at the foot of the steps of the house. Hiller Fire Chief Pat Ballon said the ankle began to swell immediately, so the man was taken to Brownsville General Hospital by ambulance for treatment.
No one else was injured in the fire, Nicholson said.
Nicholson warned area residents about leaving electrical appliances on and unattended. He also cautioned against the use of multiple extension cords and placing cords under rugs.
The South Brownsville Volunteer Fire department was assisted by the Hiller, Brownsville No. 1 (North Side), West Brownsville and California fire departments, with the Hiller Ambulance Service and Brownsville Ambulance Service Inc. at the scene.