COLUMBIA, S.C. — According to the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, two local firefighters who were injured while battling a recent fire are recovering and are expected to be okay.
On Aug. 17, firefighters Mario Trejo and Brice Minick were among a crew responding to a fire in the 4000 block of West Beltline Boulevard. They were injured when part of the structure collapsed.
Fire officials say both are recovering well, but it could be a long road to recovery.
"Things are looking good in terms of their prognosis," Columbia-Richland Fire Department Public Information Officer Mike DeSumma said. "They’ve shown a lot of signs of improvement, but they both are facing long roads to recovery."
Trejo is still hospitalized at this time. Minick is at home recovering from his injuries.
DeSumma says Trejo and Minick are essential team members, calling them part of a brotherhood. They joined the force less than a year apart and are already making an impact on the department.
"Firefighter Trejo came on board in 2023, and firefighter Minick just graduated this past spring, so they hit the floor and have been doing what they can to help and serve their communities."
To further support both firefighters, the fire department has partnered with the South Carolina State Firefighters Association to create a benefit fund to help them and their families.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, there are going to face a lot of cost ahead," DeSumma said.
"They will need sources of revenue to come in and assist them, so this is one of those things where whatever you can do to help them with that is why this fund was created.”
When Trejo and Minick will return to work is uncertain at this time.
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The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Richland County Fire Marshal's Office.