KTRE 9 News in Lufkin is reporting that three members of the Moffett Volunteer Fire Department have been hospitalized following a woods fire that occurred on Monday, while two other firefighters were treated and released at a local hospital.
Moffett is a small community just east of Lufkin, and the department was reportedly assisting other departments to battle a blaze on the north side of Lufkin.
According to the report, three firefighters – all related - were flown by medical helicopters to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston after initially going to a hospital in Lufkin.
The report gave the following accounts of each firefighter:
Fire Chief Eddie Sweet
Collapsed at the fire scene, taken to a Lufkin hospital, then flown to Memorial Hermann in Houston where he was put on a ventilator. Removed from ventilator on Tuesday morning. A doctor determined that Fire Chief Eddie Sweet’s lungs and esophagus had been burned due to something in the smoke.
Firefighter Marie Sweet (Eddie Sweet’s wife)
Left the scene and went to a hospital in Lufkin, collapsed in the waiting room, then flown to Memorial Hermann in Houston where she was put on a ventilator. Removed from ventilator Tuesday morning and moved to a burn unit.
Firefighter Holly Klock (Eddie Sweet’s sister)
Left the scene and went to a hospital in Lufkin, collapsed in the waiting room, then flown to Memorial Hermann in Houston. A defibrillator had to be used on her Monday night and she was also put on a ventilator. Currently in intensive care unit.
Two unidentified firefighters
Treated and released at a local hospital.
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