23 year old Watertown (NY) Firefighter Peyton Morse remains hospitalized after suffering an emergency during a training exercise. He is critical, but stable in intensive care..
Morse was participating in an 11-week training course at the NY State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, near Watkins Glen. The emergency occurred during a physical skills drill involving SCBA. In a note to union members Thursday afternoon, the New York State Professional Firefighters Association called what happened “a life-threatening and disturbing series of events that occurred during a recruit training session.”
The Union also said, “During a session involving some of our newest members, one became unresponsive and at this moment is receiving advanced medical care, after being airlifted from a local hospital to the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, a Grade II Trauma Center located in Sayre, Pennsylvania.”
“There are serious concerns about circumstances and reactions surrounding these events. We have not yet had the opportunity to speak to the members of the class witnessing the session,” according to the statement. “In addition, we are demanding a comprehensive report and will pose questions to the officials who oversee the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control regarding these events and the actions of the personnel supervising the training.”
As stated above, the New York State Police are conducting the investigation. Not only does Morse work for the Watertown Fire Department, but he’s the Assistant Chief at the LaFargeville Volunteer Fire Department.
Watertown Fire Chief Matt Timerman said his department is cooperating fully with the state police investigation...and he also echoes the Firefighters Association's sentiments of having “serious concerns” about what happened to Morse and that it needs to be investigated. The Watertown trainees were 2 of 39 Firefighters who began the training in early February.