"Just pray for him because he needs it," a colleague said.IVA, S.C. —An Upstate firefighter is recovering in the hospital after being hit by a vehicle Monday.The community is rallying around Iva fire Chief Curt Brickle as he undergoes surgery and continues to heal from his injuries. This includes a broken right arm, rib and spinal fractures, and multiple cuts and bruises.Several sources close to the family, including Brickle's wife, Jennifer, said he is to be intubated and...
"Just pray for him because he needs it," a colleague said.
IVA, S.C. —
An Upstate firefighter is recovering in the hospital after being hit by a vehicle Monday.
The community is rallying around Iva fire Chief Curt Brickle as he undergoes surgery and continues to heal from his injuries. This includes a broken right arm, rib and spinal fractures, and multiple cuts and bruises.
Several sources close to the family, including Brickle's wife, Jennifer, said he is to be intubated and on a ventilator for the time being. He is expected to undergo surgery for the injuries to his ribs and will need surgery for his arm.
The family tells WYFF News 4 that Brickle was not on duty when he was hit. They said he was working in an active construction zone in Laurens for a company he co-owns called CCBC Erosion Control.
Anderson County fire Chief Jimmy Sutherland said he acted as a mentor for Brickle and watched him grow up to become a first responder.
"He helps everybody. He'll give you the shirt off his back," Sutherland said. "I've known him since he was a little boy."
Sutherland tells us this case is another unfortunate example of the risks faced by first responders and road workers every day.
"It was kind of a shock to me. But we've seen a good amount of them. The volunteers, they do this job for nothing. We've got a bunch of them in South Carolina, law enforcement the same way. If the people just abide by the law, most times they are going to be OK. Just pray for him because he needs it," Sutherland said.
Chase Cleveland, a pastor, leads the congregation at Union Baptist Church, which the Brickle family attends.
"After, when you get to the hospital, I mean, the room was flooded with people, with family and friends, friends who had become like family. Everything he's going through right now, we're praying for him, trying to support him any way that we can," Cleveland said.
The family is asking for thoughts and prayers as Brickle continues to fight and recover. His wife calls him the strongest man she knows.
“He makes a great impact on people. He's a humble man. He's a hard worker. He'll do anything he can. Get his shirt off his back to anybody to try to help them any way that he can," Cleveland said.
We reached out to find out if the investigation is active and whether there will be charges filed. We have not heard a response.