‘Tough’ Bothell firefighter is on the mend after accident

Hospitalized after a snow-covered metal awning collapsed on top of him, a Bothell firefighter was home Jan. 3, according to city Fire Chief Warren Burns.

Burns added Fire Lt. Gary Wick found a crush of well-wishing neighbors, friends and family waiting to greet him outside his Bothell residence.

"He got out and started working the crowd," Burns said of Wick, who eventually was talked into entering his home and getting some further rest.

"His prognosis is excellent," Burns added.

Wick, 52 and a 20-year veteran of the Bothell fire service, was responding to a medical 911 call when a metal awning weighted down with wet, heavy snow collapsed on top of him, pinning him to the gurney he was attempting to help carry into a unit at the Green Acres Mobile Home Park on 15th Avenue Southeast.

According to department spokesperson Lisa Allen, Harborview Medical Center surgeons used six plates to help reconstruct Wicks’s appearance. But in comments he made the day after the surgery, Burns stated Wick was doing well.

“The surgery went faster than expected,” Burns said at a press conference. “He’s a pretty tough guy.”

Burns added that out of respect to Wick’s privacy, the department was not releasing some details of the firefighter’s medical condition. Burns did say Wick suffered some blockage of his airway following the accident, but that injury was treated at the scene.

Wick’s recovery reportedly could take anywhere from weeks to months, but Burns stated there is every indication the firefighter should be able to return to full duty at some point.

“He’s a big man, with a big heart and a big soul,” Burns said.

A Bothell resident, Wick is married and the father of two grown daughters.

According to Burns, a second Bothell firefighter trying to maneuver the gurney under the awning was clear of the 12-foot-by-25-foot structure when it collapsed. Wick apparently never lost consciousness.

“He was yelling things we can’t repeat right now,” Burns said.

In answer to a media question, Burns stated Wick was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but added the situation was not one in which a helmet would be required.

Burns did not comment on the condition of the resident Wick and other firefighters arrived at the mobile-home park to assist. The patient was removed from the home through another entrance and reportedly was transported to the hospital about the same time as Wick. Burns praised the response of the other firefighters on the scene, whom he said immediately called for back-up after the awning collapsed.

The crew was relieved of duty for the rest of the day, with counseling offered to anyone who felt it was needed.

According to Burns, he has heard estimates of wet snow weighing up to 80 pounds per cubic foot. Based on personal experience, he added he was guessing that figure is close to accurate. He continued by noting that awnings such as that which collapsed on Wick are not designed to bear any real weight whatsoever.

Burns said the awning incident resulted in the first serious injury suffered by a Bothell firefighter last year.

“It’s a safe department in an unsafe profession,” he added.

Regardless, department officials will review the incident at the trailer park. Burns said there is every indication the policies in place worked as they were intended, though he may issue what he termed a “near-miss warning,” basically a statement reminding emergency personnel the incident could have been much, much worse.

While the snow storms that struck before Christmas are long gone for the most part, if snow should pile up on roofs, Burns said property owners or homeowners should not add to the weight on those roofs by climbing on top of them. He advised standing on a ladder if possible and pushing snow off the roof with a broom.

Bothell Reporter Reporter Tom Corrigan can be reached at tcorrigan@bothell-reporter.com or (425) 483-3732, ext. 5052.

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