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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 | 
On Friday, October 21, 2005 at 11:55 PM (PDT), nine Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one EMS Battalion Captain and one Battalion Chief Officer Command Team under the direction of Assistant Chief John Ware responded to a Fire Investigation with Firefighter Injury at 6855 West Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood.
During the investigation of light smoke on the 4th floor of a five story office building, Captain Eric J. Greene, a 28 year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department sustained a severe electric shock while traversing an LAFD aerial ladder being operated near high-voltage power lines.
Captain Greene, age 52, was pulseless and non-breathing when removed from the ladder by fellow Firefighters.
Firefighters promptly defibrillated their injured colleague, providing immediate basic and advanced life support measures during emergency transport to nearby Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.
Early Saturday, October 22, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined Fire Chief William Bamattre in visiting with Captain Greene's family and fellow Firefighters at the hospital.
That evening, Captain Greene was transferred to the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital.
A Monday, October 24 morning announcement that Captain Greene was no longer on a respirator, and the later statement by Burn Center Founder and Medical Director Dr. Richard Grossman, that he was "awake, alert and talking", brought great relief to the many family members and off-duty Firefighters who kept vigil at the world renowned burn care facility.
According to Dr. Grossman,“Captain Greene underwent debridement surgery [which is the removal of dead tissue] and a homograft procedure [which is the use of cadaver skin to act as a biological dressing] to both right and left hands” on Tuesday morning.
A Tuesday, October 25, afternoon statement from the Grossman Burn Center indicating that the "surgery went well and (the) patient is resting comfortably" and further elaborating that Captain Greene "continues to be listed in stable condition" and "is expected to make a complete recovery" was warmly received by the injured Captain's colleagues.
A press conference took place on the morning of Thursday, October 27, at the Grossman Burn Center, with yet another surgical procedure for Captain Greene the following morning.
Captain Greene was released from the Grossman Burn Center on Saturday, October 29. He is now resting at home.
Captain Greene continues to be surrounded by family, friends and fellow Firefighters. His grateful family has expressed a wish for privacy, and do not have a public statement to offer at this time.
The source of smoke that spurred the initial fire investigation was determined to be an electrical panel on the roof of the building. The precise cause of the small fire has not yet been determined.
As a result of this incident and in accordance with Los Angeles Fire Department protocol, Fire Chief William Bamattre has assembled a multi-disciplinary "Significant Incident Investigation Team" (SIIT).
Comprised of LAFD members with specialized training, investigative and analytical skills, the SIIT has not announced a date for the formal release of its findings.
The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department are deeply thankful for the outpouring of public and Fire Service support for Captain Greene and his family. They also remain profoundly indebted to all of the nurses, physicians and hospital staff who have rendered superb care to Captain Greene and solace to his family and fellow Firefighters.
In response to numerous inquiries, Eric's family has politely suggested that in lieu of flowers, concerned persons consider a donation to FireFighters Quest For Burn Survivors.
For the latest information, please bookmark and visit this LAFD News & Information Web Log (www.lafd.org/blog.htm) on a regular basis, or use our special tools to add LAFD News directly to your My AOL or My Yahoo start page. An LAFD XML Feed is also available.
Submitted by Ron Myers, Jim Wells and Brian Humphrey, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department
45 comments:
My thoughts and prayers are with this fire captain, his family and his fire service family at the LAFD.
my father is a captain with LAFD..my prayers and thoughts to the injured Fire Captain, and the entire LAFD Fire Family
Praying for our brother.
God please protect our fallen Brother and help him to a speedy recovery.
May God watch over Captain Greene and our brothers and sisters to the south.
All of us were sadddened to hear about Capt. Greene. We would all like to extend our thoughts and best wishes to Eric and his family.
Praying for a speedy recovery.
LAFD has been so awesome to me as a candidate in the process.
I pray for Cpt. Greene and everyone in his family now. You'll get through it, sir.
A fellow brother is down, but not out and never forgotten. Our prayers are with you .
Our thoughts and prayers for a complete and speedy recovery for Captain Greene, his family, and my many friends and outstanding members of the LAFD.
My thoughts and prayers for Fire Captain Greene. My deepest sympathy to Captain Greene's family and his family at the station. God Bless you all and Capt, have a healthy and speedy recovery.
Eric...My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Stay strong. I have all the confidence in the world in you. I know you will have a speedy and full recovery. I can't wait to see your smiling face sitting in the right seat on some Truck company. Take care..I will talk to youu soon.
God's speed in your recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Captain Greene, his Family, his Friends, and his Brothers/Sisters on the Job our in our prayers. We pray for a full recovery.
Capt. Greene, I will pray for you everyday. You are a strong man and I know you will pull through this. Hang in there, buddy! C.G.
All of us were sadddened to hear about Capt. Greene. We would all like to extend our thoughts and best wishes. Your Bothers at the Honolulu Fire Dept. Eng. 1 Co. 2
Capt. Greene from all of us on the Angeles N.F. extended our thoughts and prayers for your recovery.
The members of Anne Arundel County, Maryland Retired Firefighters Association are keeping Captain Greene, his family and our brothers and sisters at LAFD in our thoughts and prayers.
It is a testament that God does answer our prayers and understands our thoughts.
We all need to continue to pray for Capt. Greene, his family and his medical team.
Caot.Greene we will continue to pray for you and your family, hang in there you mean alot to many people, my dad was very worrried and sad.
The whole ORIGEL FAMILY sends there prayers to you and your family my dad was deeply sadden when he heard the news , HE wishes you the best.
Mine and my fellow firemen send our prayers to Captain Greene, his family, and his fellow workers. Beacause of the skills that captains such as himself have shared with members of his department, he is alive for his family on this day. I know how hard it is to give care to a fellow fireman in times like these and we owe all men such as them a pat on the back and a job well done. We will keep praying for Captain Greene and his family.
On behalf of the men and women of the Glendale Fire Department, our thoughts and prayers are with Capt. Greene, his family members and the LAFD during this critical time in his recovery. Wishing our Brother a speedy recovery!
On behalf of the Officers and Firefighters of Preston Vol Emergency Services. Our thoughts and prays are with Caption Greene his family and the family of the LAFD.
Sinceraly,
Lt. Shawn Schmidt
FF/EMT-B
Preston Vol Emergency Services
Station: 903-786-3010
Capt. Greene and family . . . as fellow family members of the LAFD, we extend our arms around all of you at this time and with the strenth of Capt. his family and his brothers and sisters of the LAFD he will make it through this trying incident. Our love to you and yours as we hold you in your time of need. We love you Capt.
member LAFD
Wishing you a speedy recovery..you are in our prayers!!
On behalf of the Long Beach Firefighters, Local 372 and The LB Fire Honoraries, we wish you a speedy and safe recovery.
May God be with you Cap. Greene and your family, and for all of you at station 61, you guys are the best of the best.
Isabel Steube
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family, wishing you a healthy recovery. Sierra Madre Fire-41
The thirty nine brother Firefighters here at LACOFD in West Hollywood pray for a speedy recovery for Captain Greene. We are sure he will recieve the best of care and support from his fellow Firefighters, but we wanted to let the LAFD know that we are with you at this time.
God bless you captain Greene! Special thanks to all hands at 61's and everyone else at LAFD and Kaiser who did their part in the successful resuscitation. May we all be as blessed in our own hour of need.
Arnie White
Fire Captain
CDF Riverside County FD
Sta 09
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Hang in there. You're a strong man and will get through this. May God bless you! Gumby Gutierrez
Best wishes from a former Los Angeles resident who follows the heroics of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Mark, Portland, OR
To one of LAFD's bravest, our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you have a speedy recovery. Your brothers Local 4148
Hi Captain Greene,
You are very brave and loved by everyone that works with you! My husband is a firefighter, and we are praying for you!!! All of my family is praying and our thoughts are with you! Thank you for all you have done for so many people! You are a true hero! Please know you will get through this hard time, and remember...You have so many people who love and care for you!!!!!!
Eric, Thinking of you and your family durring this challenging time. Looking forward to your full recovery. Joe Jackson and Family.
you'll get through this everything will be much better may God bless you today, tomorrow, and always. Lorena
To our brothers and sisters at the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Please accept our deepest sympathy and best wishes towards a speedy recovery to Captain Greene. The strength and courage of our profession, along with the love and support of our family, will be a healing force in Captain Green's recovery.
God Bless and Stay Safe!!!
Wendell Eaton
Captain
Fire Station 36C
Pasadena Fire Department
To Capt Greene,
Godspeed in your recovery, You not only have the brother and sister Firefighters of California supporting your efforts but those of the rest of the nation as well.
You are in our prayers Brother.
Elwood Ervin
Fire Marshall
City of Celina TN FD
On behalf of your Brothers and Sisters in the Ventura City Fire Department Local 3431, we wish you a full and speedy recovery.
We wish you a rapid and full recovery in the arms of your family.
Hang in there, Cappy. Healing thoughts are with you JS&SB
Captain Greene,
So glad you decided to stay with us!! We are praying for you and wish you a speeding recovery.
Cptn Greene -
I wish to express to you my sincerest thanks and respect for your acceptance of the risks inherent in fire suppression. I hope your recovery is speedy and complete. May our heavenly father continue to bless you, your family & loved ones, as well as all who provide safety and health services in our communities. JMN Upland, CA
cap praise the lord for the miracle
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