Three Orillia firefighters received minor injuries after their pumper was struck by a vehicle while they were responding to a crash Tuesday morning.
The firefighters were on their way to a collision at West Ridge Boulevard and Monarch Drive when their truck was T-boned by a vehicle near the Montana’s restaurant.
“Our guys sustained minor injuries,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Kirk.
One firefighter was taken by ambulance to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. Kirk and Assistant Chief Brent Thomas drove the other two to the hospital. All three have been released and are expected to return to work soon, Kirk said.
The 75-year-old Oro-Medonte man who was driving the vehicle that struck the fire truck was not injured. He has been charged with failing to stop for an emergency vehicle.
While the firefighters’ injuries were minor, the damage to the truck was not.
“We have a pumper that sustained heavy damage,” Kirk said.
That truck is at the manufacturer's facility in Brampton, where officials are trying to determine whether it can be repaired.
In a tweet Wednesday, the Orillia Fire Department thanked Simcoe County paramedics for their assistance.
While fire crews and paramedics are often at scenes together, “typically, they’re not having to look after us,” Kirk said.
“They do a valuable job, and when you’re affected by it personally, I felt they deserved a shout-out.”
