Scotts Valley firefighter injured in wildfire battle speaks

More than 60 firefighters from Santa Cruz County are putting their lives on the line to fight the state’s numerous wildfires. Two local firefighters just got back home after they were hurt fighting the Lowell Fire in Placer and Nevada Counties.

It’s a slow recovery for both men who happen to be close friends.

NewsChannel 5 spoke with firefighter Travis Crivello who works with Scotts Valley Fire District.

He’s home safe, but he might need surgery.

“I found out today (Wednesday) I tore my bicep. I go in tomorrow to see if I need surgery on it,” Crivello said.

Crivello was part of a 22 member strike team that left at the end of July for the Lowell Fire. He and his friend and fellow Branciforte firefighter worked to set a line around the fire when boulders started rolling toward them.

“We turned around and the first one that hit me was coming straight toward my face. So I pulled my shoulder up, put my head down and I got hit,” Crivello said.

He was thrown 50 feet.

“It just happened so fast, there was nothing anybody could do,” Crivello said.

Both men were flown out of the area, to a nearby trauma center. While Crivello remembers it all, he said his friend can’t recall a thing after breaking his arm and dislocating his elbow.

“Accidents happen and we know that going in to it,” Crivello said.

The two are just a few who have been hurt battling the states raging wildfires. Four others were burned in the Lowell Fire and one firefighter was killed fighting the Frog Fire.

“It’s a dangerous job. we get put in bad situations to try and make it better,” Crivello said.