Union Springs, NY -- A Union Springs firefighter was badly burned Monday when fuel exploded in one of the fire department’s two amphibious rescue vehicles. Steven Kalet, 35, first assistant chief at the Union Springs volunteer fire department, was moving a DUKW, commonly called “a Duck,” out of the station shortly before 4 p.m. when a fuel leak caused an...
Union Springs, NY -- A Union Springs firefighter was badly burned Monday when fuel exploded in one of the fire department’s two amphibious rescue vehicles.
Steven Kalet, 35, first assistant chief at the Union Springs volunteer fire department, was moving a DUKW, commonly called “a Duck,” out of the station shortly before 4 p.m. when a fuel leak caused an explosion, said Fire Chief Garret Waldron.
Kalet was taken by helicopter to Upstate University Hospital where he was in serious condition Monday night.
Kalet has been with the fire department for about 15 years, said Waldron, and an assistant chief for two.
Union Springs has two DUKWs. The one Kalet was in was built in 1946, Waldron said. The other dates to 1943. Waldron said the neither the DUKW nor the station was badly damaged.
Kalet was preparing to perform maintenance on the vehicle, preparing for the warmer weather when boaters and swimmers crowd the finger lakes.
Waldron said the DUKWs have been called out to help in emergency, including two drownings last summer.
The fire is under investigation and both DUKWs have been taken out of service, pending the results of the investigation, Waldron said.
Still at the fire station long after dark on Monday, Waldron said the department’s thoughts were with Kalet. “We’re just praying for a quick recovery,” he said.
Contact Charles McChesney at cmcchesney@syracuse.com.