02/07/2008

Associated Press

The mayor of Rainier and another firefighter were injured in a drill at a new training facility in St. Helens.

Jerry Cole, the 34-year old Ranier mayor who is also a firefighter, and David Coombs, 37, of St. Helens, suffered moderate burns on their faces Tuesday during their training at the Lee Broadbent Training Center, a new five-story training tower, according to Fire Chief Jay Tappan.

During one of the drills simulating a room fire, propane-fired flames flashed out of the room and burned both firefighters, Tappan said. They were among eight Columbia River Fire & Rescue firefighter-paramedics training in the facility at the time.

Cole and Coombs were treated at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland and released.

Tappan said the cause of the incident remains under investigation. Crews have just begun training to operate the various burn rooms and other features of the training facility.

Cole was hired by Columbia River Fire & Rescue in 1998 after seven years volunteering with the department. He was elected mayor of Rainier in 1992.

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Information from: Longview Daily News, http://www.tdn.com/