Firefighter in critical condition

April 08, 2009|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. --Â A Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department firefighter who was injured Tuesday while battling a large barn fire off Williamsport Pike was being treated for life-threatening injuries at Washington (D.C.) Hospital Center, the fire department announced Wednesday.

Kenneth Ayers, 45, was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokesperson said.

Ayers and another department firefighter were injured when a gust of wind got beneath tin on the barn roof and pushed a timber in one of the side walls out and down on them as they were attacking the blaze, fire officials have said.

Ayers received the brunt of the falling piece of wood, and almost all of the bones in his face were fractured, Baker Heights safety officer Greg Noll said.

Ayers and the second firefighter were taken to City Hospital in Martinsburg. Ayers was taken from there to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., where a trauma doctor determined he should be taken to Washington Hospital Center, according to fire officials.

The other firefighter was released Tuesday night from City Hospital after being treated for an ankle injury, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire, which was reported at 6:22 p.m., remained under investigation Wednesday. Firefighters did not clear the scene near Energy Drive until about 1:30 a.m., after dousing remaining hot spots, Bedington Volunteer Fire Department chief Tommy Newcomb said Wednesday.

The state agreed to send four assistant state fire marshals to investigate the blaze and at least two other fires since Saturday that have been considered suspicious, Newcomb said.

Arrests have yet to be made in five suspicious fires that were reported in one weekend about a month ago.

Before joining Baker Heights about one year ago, Ayers was a member of Bay District Volunteer Fire Department in Lexington Park, Md., the department's safety officer said.

Residents who might have seen anything suspicious about the barn fire or other incidents may contact Berkeley County Crime Solvers at 304-267-4999 or Lt. Gary Harmison at the sheriff's department at 304-267-7000.

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