First responder experiences medical emergency while fighting Lawrence County fire

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — While battling a blaze in Lawrence County Friday afternoon, one firefighter needed to be sent to the hospital due to a medical emergency.

According to Lawrence County Fire and Rescue, crews were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the West End fire district on Friday, April 24, right after returning to service from a blaze in the Henryville fire district.

When units arrived on scene, they found “a working fire in a structure with exposures in close proximity,” so they immediately launched an interior attack that stopped the progress of the blaze, officials said. Crews from West End, Henryville, Ethridge, and Gandy responded to the incident.

During the operation, Lawrence County Fire and Rescue said one first responder experienced a medical emergency. The firefighter was quickly transported to the hospital by Lawrence County EMS, treated, and later released.“Firefighting is well recognized as an inherently dangerous job. It is an unpredictable, hazardous, and demanding occupation. The strenuous physical nature of the occupation alone can result in medical emergencies at any time,” officials said in a Facebook post on Sunday, April 26. “We are thankful to Lawrence County EMS for providing an Advanced Life Support unit for medical standby at all structure fire calls, when available.”

No additional details have been released about this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the first responder’s medical emergency or the extent of the damage caused by the fire.