Fire-Rescue News- Atlantic City fireman injured by errant driver

Posted: Saturday, April 24, 2010 | 0 comments

Police are looking for the driver who crossed through a barricade and nearly hit a firefighter early this morning

An Atlantic City firefighter was injured early this morning while jumping....Continue Reading

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out of the way of a driver near the scene of a fire.

Firefighter James Cheeseman tore his rotator cuff when he dove away from the car, which had whipped around a corner, onto Atlantic Avenue and through a police barricade near the scene of a fire, Fire Chief Dennis Brooks said this morning.

Cheeseman went home around 5 a.m. from AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus. He could spend as long as six months off the job to recover from his injury, Brooks said.

Atlantic City firefighters had responded around 1:47 a.m. to fire at Pat's Liquors on Atlantic Avenue near Sovereign Avenue. It took less than 15 minutes to bring the electrical fire under control, Brooks said.

Cheeseman then went out to the truck to get a tool so that firefighters could poke holes in the ceiling of the store to ensure no residual flames remained. That's when a white, four-door car nearly hit him.

He tripped over a large hose while jumping out of the way and landed on his shoulder, Brooks said.

Tomorrow marks the start of Cheeseman's 12th year with the department, according to city payroll data.