Emotional tribute for Southern California firefighter injured in rollover crash

One of the firefighters injured in a violent rollover crash on an Orange County freeway last month was met by a large procession of friends, family, medical staff and fellow firefighters as he was being transferred to a Colorado hospital that specializes in neurorehabilitation for patients with spinal injuries, officials announced Wednesday.  

Andrew Brown was among eight Orange County Fire Authority firefighters, members of Santiago Hand Crew 1, involved in a terrible crash on Sept. 19 on the 241 toll road near SR-133 in Irvine as the crewmembers were returning from fighting the Airport Fire.  

Just before 7 p.m., the driver of the truck swerved to avoid a ladder in the roadway. The maneuver caused the box-like firetruck to strike a guardrail and overturn, leaving eight firefighters injured.  

Seven of the firefighters were rushed to the hospital by ambulance, while one was airlifted off the freeway by an OCFA helicopter.  

The accident left the fire department shaken.  

“We’ve got a tough road ahead,” OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said at a news conference the morning after the crash. “Many of the injured are going to be hospitalized for a while.” 

Two of the crew members were released from the hospital the same evening, with two others getting discharged the following day. Four of the firefighters remained hospitalized until Oct. 2, when two of them, including Brown, were transferred to rehab facilities.  

As Brown was wheeled out of Mission Hospital on a gurney headed for Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, he was met by a large procession of firefighters and hand crew vehicles that followed him to John Wayne Airport where even more firefighters and his family members awaited to see him off.  

In Colorado, fire officials say he was met by yet another group of OCFA and local firefighters upon landing.  

Another member of the O.C. hand crew, who authorities did not identify, was transitioned from the Orange County Global Medical Center to Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey.  

“The OCFA, the Benevolent Association, and Orange County Professional Firefighters, Local 3631, were integral to this transition, and their collective support will continue during this next phase of healing,” officials said in a news release.  

Those wishing to donate to a fund in the Santiago Hand Crew’s name can do so by following this link to the Fallen Firefighter Relief Fund.