2 OCFA firefighters injured in accident, transferred to rehabilitation facilities, 2 others remain hospitalized – Orange County Register

Two Orange County Fire Authority firefighters who were critically injured in last month's rollover accident were transferred to rehabilitation facilities on Wednesday, Oct. 2, while two others remained hospitalized, the OCFA said.

On Wednesday morning, a procession of support vehicles, including Santiago Hand Crew personnel, followed their injured colleague Andrew Brown as he was transported from Mission Hospital to John Wayne Airport. Brown, who suffered a spinal injury, was later transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a center that specializes in neurorehabilitation.

OCFA hand crew member Andrew Brown, who suffered a spinal injury, was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a center specializing in neurorehabilitation. (Courtesy of Orange County Fire Authority)

OCFA hand crew member Andrew Brown, who suffered a spinal injury, was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a center specializing in neurorehabilitation. (Courtesy of Orange County Fire Authority)

On Wednesday morning, a procession of support vehicles, including Santiago Hand Crew personnel, followed their injured colleague Andrew Brown as he was transported from Mission Hospital to John Wayne Airport. (Courtesy of Orange County Fire Authority)

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OCFA hand crew member Andrew Brown, who suffered a spinal injury, was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a center specializing in neurorehabilitation. (Courtesy of Orange County Fire Authority)

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Photos from the transport show Brown surrounded by firefighters and family members while he was strapped to a stretcher, wearing a neck brace, wearing a cap and hoodie that said “Santiago Hand Crew” and a cast on one arm.

Another injured firefighter, whose identity was not released in an OCFA statement, was transferred from Orange County Global Medical Center to Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey on Wednesday afternoon. Details of this crew member's injuries were not released.

Two other firefighters remained hospitalized, one at Mission Hospital and one at OC Global, the OCFA statement said.

In the Sept. 19 accident on Toll Road 241, eight firefighters were injured when their vehicle rolled over after their shift fighting the airport fire. Four of them were released from hospital the night of the accident or the next day. Initially six were described as seriously injured.

A fundraiser for the eight injured firefighters and their families has so far raised over $350,000 of its $500,000 goal on GoFundMe.