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Two firefighters injured at Vernon Avenue NW fire

WARREN — Two firefighters received injuries while battling a Monday morning fire at 230 Vermont Ave. NW.

The injured firefighters were Fire Lt. Shawn Peura, whose leg went through a floor, and Fire Capt Ed Hukari, who injured his back. There were no other injuries.

Peura described the fire as “pretty much put out,” while he was carrying a hose through the house to check on areas where there could be hot spots. It was then when as section of floor gave way under his weight.

“One of my buddies, Raymond Manofsky, who was right next to me, grabbed me and pulled me up,” Peura said. “He is one of our newer firefighters, but he was right where he was supposed to be, and he did exactly what he was supposed to do.”

Peura said as his leg went through the floor, his pants leg pushed up toward his upper thigh.

“Embers from the fire went down into my boot, burning my ankle and the back of my heel,” he said. “They got me out of there an pulled my boots off.”

Peura described what happened as a freak accident.

“I’ve been a firefighter for about 24 years and nothing like this has happened to me,” Peura said. “It could have been worse. My buddy was there to grab me and get me out of the hole. I could have fallen into the basement.”

Although Emergency Medical Technicians were called to the scene, the firefighters did not seek medical attention.

Fire Chief Ken Nussle does not expect either firefighter to miss any time.

Firefighters arrived at the scene within two minutes after receiving the 5:48 a.m calls for service from Trumbull County 911. The county dispatch received at least three different calls about the early morning fire from people as they were driving to their jobs. The house fire was fully engaged when firefighters arrived.

Fire crews had control and left the scene by 7:21 a.m.

The fire was at a single-family, ranch style house at the corner of Vermont Avenue and McMyler Street NW. Fire officials estimate the fire loss at an estimated $22,000.

There was some damage to the garage at the rear of the property.

Tanice Patterson, whose home sits behind the Vermont Avenue house, described the heat from the fire as intense, saying her son said he felt it through the walls of his bedroom.

“There was a lot of smoke,” she said.

Patterson said the house was not occupied the last two years, but added work crews were there this past summer.

“It is a shame,” Patterson said. “The owner put a lot a lot of work into fixing up the house.”

According to the Trumbull County Auditor’s website, the property belongs to Eric Dotson Sr., who obtained it from Eric Dotson Jr. in 2017

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin expressed frustration about the loss of a house that a city resident could have moved in to. He also expressed relief the injuries to the city’s firefighters do not appear significant.

“Something like this reminds us how dangerous the jobs firefighters do,” Franklin said. “Although these firefighters decided not to go to get immediate medical attention, we will make sure they are seen.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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