Stephen Marcantel
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
(TNS)
Jan. 2—A Broussard Fire Department captain and two other firefighters were injured in a New Year’s Day structure fire near Milton.
Fire Captain Erik Mannting is undergoing surgery on his neck after a wall fell on him and fellow firefighters Nick Stancliff and Juston Chretien.
Stancliff and Chretien received minor injuries and are recovering at home, said Broussard Fire Chief Bryan Champagne.
Mannting received neck, leg and rib injuries. He underwent surgery around 7:30 Thursday morning.
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“He’s undergoing his first surgery today, and we’ll see what happens after that,” Champagne said.
On Wednesday, Broussard firefighters provided mutual aid to the Milton Fire District in response to reports of a building fire in the 100 block of Santa Cruz Drive around 1:30 a.m.
Around 2:15 a.m., while fighting the fire from the rear of the building, a brick wall facade fell on the four firemen, injuring three and trapping Mannting and Stancliff underneath.
“Our brave Broussard firefighters put their lives on the line to help others every day,” Mayor Ray Bourque said in an announcement, “I am grateful for their heroic efforts and wish them a speedy recovery.”
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