Fire Rescue News - Firefighter hospitalized after collapsing while fighting a house fire in Longport
By DEREK HARPER Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 | 11 comments
LONGPORT — A firefighter who had responded to a house fire at Atlantic Avenue and 28th Street collapsed about 15 minutes into fighting the fire Saturday.
Fire Chief Levon S. "Lefty" Clayton said Capt. Richard Hirsch, 57, was taken to Shore Memorial Hospital. Clayton said he has been a member of the borough's volunteer squad for 39 years.....Continue Reading
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A witness said Hirsch was administered CPR and a defibrillator was used before he was taken away in an ambulance. It is unclear what Hirsch’s condition was, since he was not a listed patient at Shore Memorial Hospital on Saturday evening.
Hospital spokespeople were not releasing updated information on Hirsch's condition early this afternoon. Longport fire officials were not immediately available for comment today.
Clayton said an employee from Atlantic City Electric was repairing a wire at about 11:30 a.m. when he noticed smoke from a nearby white bungalow and reported the fire.
Longport, Margate and Somers Point emergency officials responded, and Clayton said the fire was under control by 11:52 a.m.
The fire burned part of the kitchen, leaving a visible hole in the outside wall. The building is a vacation home for Narberth, Pa., residents Melvin and Peggy Sterling.
With the front door standing open and firefighters in the living room, Peggy Sterling praised the firefighters who responded Saturday afternoon. She said, "They've been working hard all day."
Posted in BREAKING | ATLANTIC on Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:00 pm Updated: 12:47 pm.
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Longport firefighter in good condition after collapse
From Press staff reports | Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 | 2 comments
A Longport firefighter who collapsed at a fire Saturday is in good condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a hospital official said Sunday evening.
Capt. Richard Hirsch, 57, was fighting a house fire at Atlantic Avenue and 28th Street at midday Saturday. A witness said CPR and a defibrillator were used after Hirsch collapsed.
The 39-year member of the volunteer department was taken by ambulance to Shore Memorial Hospital, fire Chief Levon S. “Lefty” Clayton said, before being transferred to the hospital in Philadelphia.
