Live fire exercise leaves 3 Md. firefighters injured

By FireRescue1 Staff

NEWBURG, Md. — A live fire training exercise has left three volunteer firefighters injured in Maryland.

The firefighters were struck and injured on Saturday by a masterstream deluge gun when it became dislodged from its staged position, according to a press release from the Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department.

The accident occurred at the conclusion of a successful live fire training evolution involving neighboring stations, as firefighters were wrapping up operations by dousing hot spots, the report said.

After firefighters shut down the deluge gun, two of the injured Newburg volunteers were flown to Prince George’s Hospital Center and a neighboring firefighter was transported to a local hospital.

Among the victims was Newburg's Volunteer Fire Chief, Steve Shifflett, who remains in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.