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Virginia Volunteer Firefighter Injured in Controlled Fire Incident

A volunteer firefighter from the White Oak Volunteer Fire Department in Virginia suffered severe injuries during a controlled fire incident in late May. Alex Byers, along with his brother and father who are also firefighters, used department equipment without authorization to conduct a controlled burn of yard waste at a rural Stafford County home.

Byers fell into the fire and sustained third-degree burns to 22% of his body, leading to a month-and-a-half hospital stay. The community organized a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to support Byers while he was out of work and recovering.

Stafford County Fire and Rescue Chief Joseph Cardello addressed the unauthorized use of county fire apparatus and emphasized that it was not the best use of taxpayer resources. He stated that the incident has been addressed through the disciplinary process to prevent a recurrence.

Captain Byers admitted to using county fire equipment to assist a neighbor and acknowledged that certain practices from the past needed to change. While the apparatus were not damaged, county-owned personal protective equipment was affected.

Cardello highlighted the importance of ensuring that county resources are not misused for personal purposes, as it could potentially put the public at risk in emergency situations. Despite the incident, the Byers family remains part of the volunteer fire department team as Alex continues his recovery.

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